| ► Judge Elizabeth Ray of Houston; scofflaw, moron, ethical gremlin |
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Judge Elizabeth Ray of Houston; scofflaw, moron, ethical gremlin
Unfortunately, Judge Elizabeth Ray sits on the 165th District Court in Houston.
Texas Ethics Laws limits the expenditure of campaigns funds to legitimate campaign activities and/or official officeholder duties. In other words, campaign funds cannot be used for purposes that are clearly personal in nature.
Illegal expense for Magazine subscriptions
The Texas Ethics Commission recently fined Judge Adolph Canales for illegally using campaign funds to pay subscription costs that were clearly personal. In its ruling, the Commission stated:
The commission also stated in EAO 432 that political contributions cannot be used to pay for general education. In the respondent’s case, the reading of the Wall Street Journal is not necessary to maintaining a law license or fulfilling legal education requirements. In addition, there is no evidence provided by the respondent that the access to the Wall Street Journal primarily furthers the respondent’s duties or activities as an officeholder. Rather, it appears that the subscription primarily furthers personal purposes and is not connected with a senior judge’s duties or activities as an officeholder. Therefore, there is credible evidence that the respondent violated section 253.035(a) of the Election Code in connection with the use of the paper publication of the Wall Street Journal at the respondent’s residence and the online access to the Wall Street Journal.
Despite this prohibition, Judge Elizabeth Ray used campaign funds for the following:
It’s pretty obvious to me that these magazines were ordered and delivered to the residence of Judge Elizabeth Ray. I’ve been to quite a few courts throughout the country, and I’ve never seen magazines titled, This Old House; Bottom Line, Sherman’s travel, Food & Wine and/or Travel & Leisure, have you?
Ya might see something similar at your doctor’s office; however, you’ll also notice that the doctor’s home address has been blackened out or cut out, right?
Now ya gotta be one big time loser and cheapskate to demand reimbursement from your campaign for a copy of “Food and Wine Magazine,” right? It cannot be disputed in mind that Judge Elizabeth Ray purchased this magazine for her own personal use and then decided to illegally collect the $2.99 from her campaign. What a loser!
Who did the publishers mail these magazines too? Maybe that’s a little tough for the investigators at the Texas Ethics Commission to figure out, right? It would damn sure be the first thing I’d investigate. And if they were mailed to the judge’s home, I’d ask the DA to prosecute them even though we know judges are held to a “lower standard of conduct” than we are, right?
Houston Livestock Show & Radio Dues/Fees
On October 4, 2004, Judge Elizabeth Ray paid $500 for “Lifetime Membership Dues” to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Did ya get that folks? “Lifetime Membership Dues” in October 2004 as shown below.
Judge Elizabeth Ray: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, 20041004, 500.00, Lifetime Membership Dues
However in 2007 and 2008 Judge Elizabeth Ray continued to pay membership dues to the Ray: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as set forth below.
Hmmm, could it be that Judge Elizabeth Ray has more lives than a cat? Or did Judge Elizabeth Ray illegally pay membership dues on behalf of someone else?
Gift purchases gift for court staff member
On Dec. 4, 2008, Judge Elizabeth Ray spent $351.81 to purchase a gift (singular) for a court staff member at Tiffany & Company at the Galleria Mall in Houston as set forth below.
Do ya think that Judge Elizabeth Ray advised the staff member that she actually didn’t spend one nickel of her own money for this $350 gift from Tiffany’s? Of course she didn’t! Judge Elizabeth Ray was obviously satisfied to make the staff member actually believe she was a “big spender,” if ya know what I mean.
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