Reason for Texas Ethics Reforms #10: Kim Brimer

There are few better examples supporting reforms to the Texas Ethics Commission than former State Senator Kim Brimer.

Brimer, a 20 year incumbent, lost his race to newcomer Wendy Davis. One of the reasons was a particular ethics complaint concerning using his donors money to purchase and sell a high-dollar condo in Austin. According to the Texas Ethics Commission over a 6 year period Brimer gave his wife's realty company over $180,000 of his campaign donations to buy a condo. This condo was later sold. According to Lone Star Report, Brimer and his wife made off with over $350,000 of his donor's money.

What is interesting is that he paid this to his wife's realty company that changed names 3 different times and while Brimer was on the Board of Directors. It is a clear violation of ethics regulations to purchase property, to pay your family members for services, and to pay an organization that you have 10% or more ownership in. Brimer paid a very heavy price for these violations, he lost the election. (And has an ethics complaint pending)

HB3178 would have prevented this from happening and Brimer may have kept his seat in the Senate. HB3178 calls for periodic audits of our elected officials campaign finance statements, mandatory training every two years, it clarifies that donations cannot be used to pay a family member or buy property, and it requires all fines to be paid from personal funds.

Passing HB3178 is actually in the best interest of all elected officials and candidates. Otherwise, our elected officials will be under the constant watchful eyes of activists looking for ethics violations.