PACing in the Endorsements by the Greater Harris County Democrats

There is a new group endorsing candidates called the Coalition of Harris County Democratic Elected Officials which Lisa Falkenberg wrote about in the Houston Chronicle. It wasn't a flattering article.

Frustrated candidates are abuzz with reports of behind-the-scenes controversies and shenanigans ahead of next month's primary, from a local Democratic club hitting up candidates for hefty donations to big-name elected officials throwing around their weight with their own endorsing group.

Greater Harris County Democrats
A couple of years ago the first of these stealth Political Action Committees, the Greater Harris County Democrats, emerged and endorsed some of the candidates who were not getting many endorsements, such as State Representative Al Edwards, State Representative Kevin Bailey, and Jose Medrano who was running against one of the best State Representatives in Houston, Jessica Farrar.

The GHCD, not to be confused with the Harris County Democrats, no longer has a website and it is unclear who they are or how they conduct endorsements. According to the Texas Ethics Commission they raised about $9500 including a $2000 donation from Kevin Bailey who they endorsed. Expenditures of $13,900 included $13,400 to Johnston Campaign for mailers.

If this is nothing but a few people raising money and charging for endorsement mailers, then it is wrong and candidates should not screen for these endorsements, if they even screen.

PACing it in.
Forming a PAC to raise money and endorse candidates is nothing new in politics. The republicans have mastered this. Former Speaker of the House Tom Craddick has a number of PACs including the "Jobs PAC"

Here’s what happened: Craddick gave $250,000 to the Texas Jobs & Opportunity Build A Secure Future PAC (Jobs PAC) on January 10, 2008, along with instructions to distribute the money to incumbent Democratic Representatives; Kevin Bailey, Dawnna Dukes, Kino Flores, and Aaron Pena. Each representative was offered $50,000.

Personally I find these PACs growing like a weed, such as poison ivy. It poisons the process and, when left unchecked, can become just as bad as the republican's PACs. Bad for Texas. Bad for Democracy. And bad for Democrats.