From Zeke MacCormack's article in SA Express News
KERRVILLE — Reflecting the intensity of local election campaigning, a criminal complaint has been lodged over rent rebates of $20 that were offered to tenants of four apartment complexes to reward them if they vote May 5.
The apartments had meet-and-greet events for the candidate slate led by Bill Blackburn, who is challenging incumbent Mayor Bonnie White. Three council seats are at stake.
An attorney for the MacDonald Companies, which owns the complexes, insisted the rebates were perfectly legal, but confirmed that the offer advertised in apartment newsletters has been rescinded.
District Attorney Lucy Wilke on Wednesday said she referred to the state attorney genercode provisions on bribery.al’s office a complaint she received from an unspecified source that alleged the rebate offer violated state penal
The statute cited states, “A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly offers, confers, or agrees to confer on another, or solicits, accepts or agrees to accept from another: any benefit as consideration for the recipient’s decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant, party official or voter.”
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The MacDonald Companies build and manage federally subsidized housing projects - four of them in Kerrville. It's understandable why they would downplay the seriousness of their conduct. But look at it this way - let's say the liberals/Democrats made a similar offer to low income voters in Houston or San Antonio - it might be worth $20 to go vote - or just a bottle of Thunderbird Wine.
KERRVILLE — Reflecting the intensity of local election campaigning, a criminal complaint has been lodged over rent rebates of $20 that were offered to tenants of four apartment complexes to reward them if they vote May 5.
The apartments had meet-and-greet events for the candidate slate led by Bill Blackburn, who is challenging incumbent Mayor Bonnie White. Three council seats are at stake.
An attorney for the MacDonald Companies, which owns the complexes, insisted the rebates were perfectly legal, but confirmed that the offer advertised in apartment newsletters has been rescinded.
District Attorney Lucy Wilke on Wednesday said she referred to the state attorney genercode provisions on bribery.al’s office a complaint she received from an unspecified source that alleged the rebate offer violated state penal
The statute cited states, “A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly offers, confers, or agrees to confer on another, or solicits, accepts or agrees to accept from another: any benefit as consideration for the recipient’s decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant, party official or voter.”
....................................
The MacDonald Companies build and manage federally subsidized housing projects - four of them in Kerrville. It's understandable why they would downplay the seriousness of their conduct. But look at it this way - let's say the liberals/Democrats made a similar offer to low income voters in Houston or San Antonio - it might be worth $20 to go vote - or just a bottle of Thunderbird Wine.
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