Thank your for the Debt Cortney!
Cortney Nilland resigned from City Council

More than anyone, Niland was the hentchwomen of the current cabal of Kingmakers.

Implicated in the open meeting violations that proceeded the Southwest University Park vote, many of the open records that came out of that scandal portrayed Niland as not a very nice person.

Perhaps the greatest black mark on her record is her alleged involvement in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raiding a local domestic violence shelter.

Regarding Niland's change of heart in December 2016, when she voted to take Duranguito off consideration, Niland may have had the Grinch moment then she grew a heart. Ironically, this all took place around Christmas time.

But then she split. Did not attend anymore meetings. And suddenly resigns.

We should also questions whether Niland "set up" other council members to violate the Texas Open Meeting act.

We know evil people have family tragedies too, so we won’t press her too hard.

Niland leaves us with tons of debt and higher property taxes, all to the benefit of her masters. She will not have to worry about it as she's splitting El Paso.

But perhaps, next Christmas Eve, at midnight, Jacob Marley will pay her a visit.

 

El Paso D.A. Jaime Esparza Requests Texas Rangers Investigate Baseball Stadium Open Meetings Act Violations

Above, Yesterday, El Paso District Attorney announces investigation into
Southwest University Park baseball stadium Open Meeting Act Violations.

El Paso D.A. Jaime Esparza Requests Texas Rangers Investigate Baseball Stadium
Open Meetings Act Violations
Current and Former City Council members Cortney Niland, Michael Noe, Suzie Byrd, Steve Ortega, Ann Morgan Lilly to be Investigated

by Satira Sinverquenza
Associated Mess

In a press conference Friday afternoon, El Paso District Attorney Jaime Esparza announced that he has asked the Texas Rangers to investigate what he think are Texas Open Meetings Act violations during the baseball stadium push by El Paso City Council back in 2012. He also announced the formation of the White Crime Unit in his office.

Above, former City Council representative Steve Ortega and former City Manager Joyce Wilson 
conspire to violate the Texas Open Records Act and run a "Walking Quorum."

 

Although the violations go back to 2012, Esparza is optimistic that an investigation will find violations. Email disclosed to the public via www.chucoleaks.org, showed multiple actions by the named city council member to circumvent the Texas Open Meetings Act and maintain a walking quorum.

A “walking quorum” is a series of gatherings among separate groups of members of a governmental body, each less than quorum size, who agree, tacitly or explicitly, to act uniformly in sufficient number to reach a quorum.

City Rep. Cortney Niland emails stadium supporter Rick Harrow in which she sets up a "Walking Quorum."

 

DA Esparza’s sudden interest in public corruption has pleased many open government advocates in El Paso like City Attorney Silvia Firth and former City Manager and supervillain Joyce Wilson.



Above, Steve Ortega in this email says he "has the votes" implying the City Council had done a
secret vote. Reps. Niland, Noe, Acosta, Byrd, Lilly would eventually vote for the baseball stadium.

Recently escaped from Arkam Asylum, and speaking from her office at El Paso’s Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande, where her position was conveniently set up for her after she was rejected as a city manager candidate from several cities, Joyce Wilson said she is proud of Jaime Esparza but has her doubts due to Esparza's record of investigating public corruption.

“I hope he looks into my dealing facilitating these violation of the Open Meetings Act back in 2012,” say Wilson. “What does a villain have to do to get caught in this down? This town deserves a better class of criminals and I'm going to give it to them."

Above, Former El Paso City Manager Joyce Wilson at Texas Workforce,
who recently escaped from Arkam Asylum, doubts Esparza's crime-fighting abilities.

 

Esparza deflected criticism that he has been soft of political corruption, but did admit he had not been as aggressive with Open Meeting Act violations by former and current city representatives Ortega, Lilly, Byrd, Niland, and Noe.

When asked why he did not ask the Texas Rangers to investigate City Council member in 2012 when with the baseball stadium, Esparza admitted that the baseball issue concerned the rich and powerful in El Paso and the recent scandal involves the poor and people of color.

"This will not happen again in El Paso," said the D.A., "Because I'm the hero El Paso deserves, but not the one it needs right now."

To help his office learn of political corruption and Texas Open Meetings Act violations, Esparza proposed a search light be illuminated on top of the city hall building to call him to investigate corruption.

Above, EPPD pose with "Corruption Signal" which will
alert El Paso D.A. Esparza to City Council corruption

Should citizens feel the El Paso City Council is violating the Open Meeting Act or Rep. Claudia Ordaz is receiving phone texts from County Commission Vince Perez during City Council meetings, or she is not living in the district she represents, they can go atop the City Hall building and light the "Corruption Signal."

 

Above, "Corruption Signal" as it will appear illuminated
in El Paso's night sky (Photo Courtesy the District Attorney Office.)

 

When asked if he had some bias that may have prevented him from prosecuting or asking the Texas Rangers to investigate the City representatives who voted for the baseball stadium back in 2012, Esparza said he hold no bias.

 

Guilty of Fiduciary Malfeasance? Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Cortney Niland Cause $3 MILLION Dollar Budget Shortfall

Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Cortney Niland Cause $3 MILLION Dollar Budget Shortfall

$9 MILLION Dollar impact in Financial Damage to City

Fiduciary - A fiduciary duty is a legal duty to act solely in another party's interests. Parties owing this duty are called fiduciaries. The individuals to whom they owe a duty are called principals. Fiduciaries may not profit from their relationship with their principals unless they have the principals' express informed consent. They also have a duty to avoid any conflicts of interest between themselves and their principals or between their principals and the fiduciaries' other clients. A fiduciary duty is the strictest duty of care recognized by the US legal system. (Legal Information Institute).

Malfeasance - wrongful and unlawful conduct, especially conduct by public officials which interferes with their public duties (Black's Law Dictionary).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by Jerry

An email obtained via the Texas Open Records Act and posted at Chucoleaks.org shows that City Representatives Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Courtney Niland knew on August 24, 2012 that the Western Refinery Property Tax appraisal would be between $216 to $280 million dollars. Even though they knew this  -- they kept it quiet.  

CLICK TO ENLARGE

 

As a result, this caused a $3 MILLION Dollar Budget Shortfall with a $9 MILLION Dollar impact in financial damage to the City, damage harming all El Pasoans.

 

Who Knew What and When?

Dinah Kilgore stated that she met with ALL the taxing entities in July 2012 and informed them not to count on the Western Refinery property tax money from the $780 million dollar appraisal.

 

Rep. Suzie Byrd

On August 24, 2012, Susie Byrd forwarded an email to Steve Ortega and Courtney Niland stating that the Central Appraisal District (CAD) board will not allocate funds to go to court and instead will negotiate a settlement with Western Refinery and the expected property tax appraisal would be between $216 to $280 million dollars.

 

Byrd attributed these statements to a conversation with Dinah Kilgore, Director Central Appraisal District proving that Dinah Kilgore is telling the truth about giving the City notice.

 

Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Courtney Niland KEPT THE SHORTFALL QUIET!

 

Gary Hanson spokesman from Western Refinery stated his company notified all the taxing entities not to count on the $780 million dollar appraisal.

 

Furthermore, are we really expected to believe that the City Manager Joyce Wilson and Chief Financial Officer Carmen Arrieta Candelaria were not informed by both Dinah Kilgore and Western Refinery, but Susie Byrd was????

 

Could the Budget Shortfall Have Been Prevented?

 

Absolutely!

 

Photo obtained via Occupy City Hall

City Manager Joyce Wilson and the Chief Financial Officer Carmen Arrietta Candelaria had a responsibility to amend the budget and submit a truthful accounting of expected property taxes in July 2012 when notified by both Dinah Kilgore and Western Refining.

 

Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd and Courtney Niland could have prevented this from happening in August 2012 at the beginning of the budget year. Ortega, Byrd, and Niland had a responsibility to post an agenda item to review the impact on the budget rather than “keeping it quiet” until May 2013, the last quarter of the budget cycle when the budget shortfall would have triple the impact.

 

Who gets Harmed?

As a result of “their secret,” Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Courtney Niland have harmed every person in the City.

 

Yes taxpayers, you will have to make up the shortfall in higher taxes or lose services.

 

What are the Financial Damages?

 

The expected financial impact is between $11.3 to 17.3 MILLION Dollars in budget shortfalls countywide.

 

KVIA reported Western Refinery CAD settlement leaves budgets short

You can read the KVIA story here

http://www.kvia.com/news/western-refinery-cad-settlement-leaves-budgets-short/-/391068/19981276/-/ep9bc0z/-/index.html

 

The Western Refinery Property Tax Settlement is expected to cost in budget shortfalls:

§  The City $3 million dollars and an actual impact of $9 million dollars

According to Mayor Cook with only a quarter of the year left that $3 million triples to a $9 million dollar impact on the city budget.

To put it in perspective, the City only keeps a $16 million dollar reserve fund and they want you to lower that in the Charter Amendment Propositions!

§  The County $1.7 million dollars

§  The El Paso Independent School District $5.3 million dollars

§  The El Paso Community College $500,000

§  The University Medical Center $800,000

 

The Convenient Scapegoats: Central Appraisal District Board (CAD) and Dinah Kilgore

 

Steve Ortega had no response which is no surprise since he thinks he answers to no one.

 

Amazingly, Susie Byrd’s response to the KVIA story regarding CAD was "It's almost

like they make this stuff up," City Rep. Susie Byrd said.

 

 Geez “It’s actually like Susie Byrd is completely lacking in both honesty and integrity.”

 

Courtney Niland has “volunteered” to sit on the Central Appraisal District (CAD) Board and “vowed to do what she can to prevent something like this from ever happening again.”  

 

Newsbreak to Niland! Your oath of office is a “vow”!

 

You had a responsibility to take steps to prevent this in August 2012. Do you really expect us to believe your “vow”?

 

Vote INFORMED EL PASO  - It’s time to Clean Out a Corrupt City Government!

Do you really think Steve Ortega is fit for public office much less Mayor?

 

Do you really think Susie Byrd is fit for public office much less an EPISD school board trustee?

 

Do you really trust Carmen Arrieta Candelaria to “fix” the problems at EPISD by serving on the EPISD Board of Managers?

 

Are you tired of being scammed for millions of dollars by City Manager Joyce Wilson?

 

Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Courtney Niland should resign or be removed from office immediately by recall or fiduciary malfeasance. They should NEVER be allowed to run for elected office again.

 

Joyce Wilson and Carmen Arrieta Candelaria need to shown to the door.

Vote “AGAINST” Proposition 4: Council wants you to pay them 2 salaries for arrogance and a part-time effort

Vote “AGAINST” Proposition 4: Council wants you to pay them 2 salaries for arrogance and a part-time effort
City Uses Faulty and Deceptive Logic for Justifying Raises

Currently, the City Charter states Council’s “base salaries are increased by a percentage equal to the percent increase of the general salary adjustment, if any, given to the classified employees in the general services effective as of the date designated in the budget resolution.” This means that base salaries are increased by the same percentage the classified employees receive.

Council just received a 5% raise:

• Representatives to $30,450 and the
• Mayor to $47,250.

If this proposition passes, beginning in 2015, the annual salary of the city representatives would be increased to the H.U.D. median income for a family of 4 for El Paso County which is $50,500 and the Mayor’s salary would be 150% of that.

The Actual Numbers based on the 2013 HUD rate

The Mayor’s salary would increase 59% from $47,250 to $75,000 -- a $28,500 raise!

A Representative’s salary would increase 66% from $30,450 to $50,500 -- a $20,050 raise!

In 2015, the HUD rate will likely increase, so salaries will be higher.

Faulty Logic

The City says the idea behind the proposition is to pay the mayor and representatives enough while they are in office so that they can support a family without having another job.

The H.U.D. median income for a family of 4 is an inappropriate salary rate because it is for 2 earner households (for example 2 people, not individuals). Also, it is for a 40-hour work week, not a part-time, if I feel like working, mentality that plagues City Council. 

It is an absolute falsehood to portray the Mayor and the individual representatives as the sole supporters of their families.

Two income households are the norm for most families across the United States. As you will see below -- the majority of council are not the primary providers in their households -- and most are well above the median income level.

Based on the City’s logic, if married, a council member’s spouse would need to make at least $20,050 per year. If single, then they are already above the median for a single individual at $30,450.

So what are their household incomes? Do They Really Need a Raise??

Steve Ortega’s spouse is COO of Del Sol Hospital and is the primary provider of the household with a combined household income well above $100,000

Susie Byrd’s spouse is an ESL teacher and is the primary provider of the household with a combined household income at or above $60,000

Cortney Niland’s spouse is a business owner and is the primary provider of the household with a combined household income at or above $60,000.  

Ann Morgan Lilly’s spouse is a businessman and is the main provider of the household with a combined household income at or above $60,000

Eddie Holguin’s spouse is an attorney with a combined household income at or above $60,000.

Emma Acosta and Carl Robinson are single to our knowledge and both above the median income at $30,450.

Not sure what Dr Noe’s spouse does and who cares. Dr Noe maintains his private practice and reportedly puts in about 15 hours a week for the Tuesday meeting and the occasional special meeting. His City Representative salary is supplemental income and his household income is at or above $60,000.

 

 

Do they deserve a raise?

Dr Noe is the best example of why salaries should not be raised. There is no prohibition of private sector employment.

The current Charter already prohibits public employment and holding another public office. Steve Ortega thumbed his nose at the Charter and worked as an instructor (public employment) at EPCC anyway. The administration and City did not enforce their own Charter.

Mayor and Council will continue to treat the position as part-time no matter what they are paid because there is no enforceable provision or accountability measure to require they work full-time and actually earn the salary.

 

Unlike the private-sector, the public is very limited in its ability to fire them for poor performance short of recall, filing a court complaint, or pray someone better runs in 4 years.

Think about it, there is NO time clock for city representatives. They cannot get fired if they work less than 40 hours a week, or in Dr. Noe’s case 15.

Higher salaries do not attract more qualified candidates.  We are not speaking about all current city council members, but this  city council attracted people with higher education but very limited earning potential in the private sector, weak work ethic-seeking status, power and influence with little if any respect for the public.

Protect the Integrity of El Paso’s City Charter. Vote AGAINST ALL 9 Propositions.

 

 

El Paso City Reps. Niland and Ortega to Move to Arizona as Part of Western Refining Realignment

AP Associated Mess

Above, Rep. Ortega (second from the right) and Niland (right) announcing their move to Arizona.

El Paso City Reps. Niland and Ortega to Move to Arizona as Part of Western Refining Realignment
Niland's move to drastically affect women's shelters

by SATIRA SINVERGUENZA

Associated Mess

EL PASO (TX) -- In an event that stunned the city, at this morning's El Paso City Council meeting, Representatives Cortney Niland and Steve Ortega said they would be moving to Arizona as part of Western Refining's realignment.

In November of last year, Western Refining stated that it would move 50 employees from its El Paso headquarters, to Arizona.

Niland and Ortega announced this morning that they will be included in the 50 employees moved to Arizona.

“We have received our orders and we will comply as will our other co-workers,” said Ortega at this morning's meeting.

City Attorney Benji A. Bogado stated that his office is looking into the legalities of the move, as representatives must live in the district they represent.

“This is something new for us,” said Mayor John Cook, “whether a city representative can live in another city and remain a city representative is yet to be seen.”

Bogado does not anticipate much change. “I think it's more of an issue for Rep. Niland than it is for Rep. Ortega,” says Bogado. “Other than trying to close women's shelters in Segundo Barrio, Niland rarely steps into other parts of her district than The Willows.”

“Ortega's situation is far more complex,” Bogado elaborated. “If anyone, he's an expert at representing areas of town other than his own district, so his move is no big change.”

“And I think he's use to representing carpetbaggers, scalawags, and robber barons,” continued Bogado, “and that's something he can do from anywhere.”

How the corporate move will effect Rep. Niland's efforts to close every women's shelter in the city remains to be seen.

“I was focusing on the shelters owned by Mexicans first,” stated Niland, “but I think the Arizona air will help me clear my head and help me make better judgements so that I don't go throwing poor battered women out onto the streets during Christmastime.” “I'll wait until after the New Year,” added Niland.

For Ortega, his coming move to Arizona leaves several projects unfinished.

As for the use of eminent domain in El Paso's Lower Valley to build a Port of Entry, Ortega stated, “I was under the impression that land was owned by Billy Abraham. Now that I know it is not,” continued Ortega, “the Port of Entry does not fit into my plans to take all of Abraham's land and buildings.”

As for bridge wait times, “Right now, it is entirely too slow to smuggle marijuana into the country,” said Ortega. “How are we going to handle this when drugs are legalized?”

But Ortega was unmoved at criticism that he would be unable to represent his district from another state. Nevertheless, he admitted some issues like bridge wait times may have to be taken up by others.

“Speeding up the wait times that drug smugglers face to bring stuff into El Paso is something Beto O'Rourke will have to look into when he's elected U.S. Representative.”

----

Follow Associated Mess reporter Satira Sinverguenza on Twitter.

Read More

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Deep Inside City Rep. Cortney Niland

Deep Inside City Rep. Cortney Niland

A Look at Niland Contributors: Where they Live, Parts of Her District That Did not Give, and Republican and Gov. Rick Perry Connect the Dots

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Many of you have written asking us to give you more information on El Paso City Representative Cortney Niland and Rep. Noe, so we will focus on Niland first.

Now, first a disclaimer. All political candidates and office holders receive contributions,good office holder and bad office holder receive contributions large and small. It only becomes a problem when office holders become puppets for their biggest contributors. Want an example, listen to Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 City Council Meeting: CLICK HERE and at the upper left put in 10/18/11.

Cortney Niland represents District 8 (see District 8 Map). She entered office this past May 2011. In this last election of May 2011, Cortney Niland had some of the biggest donations from some of El Paso's richest people, most of them prominent Republicans. To see her campaign reports, CLICK HERE.

She received many small donations also, but in comparison to her competitors who ran against her for District 8 City Representative, she dwarfed them in fundraising. Here are a list of her reported donors and how much they gave. I have put the zip code where this donor lives or offices (according to the finance report) so it will have in parenthesis “79922” or “(22)”. As a reference, here is the link to a zip code map for El Paso:

Citizens for Prosperity (22) - $3,000 in kind consulting contribution – treasurer is listed as Robert Hoy Jr. addressed at 201 Villa Serena Ct. in 79922 which is listed as the home of Hoy in a separate personal contribution. The El Paso Times reports ("PAC aids candidates; Group Back Lily, Niland for Council," April 16, 2011) that Citizens for Prosperity gave Citizens for Prosperity PAC “has raised $41,000 and given $24,782.48 of it to candidates Ann Morgan Lilly and Cortney Niland.”

The El Paso Times also states, “The Citizens for Prosperity PAC was formed three years ago and filed its first committee campaign finance report in January 2008. Records list El Paso businessman Robert Hoy as the treasurer. Among the PAC's main contributors are Woody Hunt, Robert Brown, Richard Castro, Steve DeGroat, Rick Francis, Paul Foster and Bill Sanders” (04/16/2011). 

The Times also states, “Hoy, who gave $1,000 to the committee, also gave Niland and Lilly $1,000 each,” and “Woody Hunt, chief executive officer of Hunt Companies Inc., gave $10,000 to the committee in September and $1,000 to Niland's campaign in March”(04/16/2011).

Regarding Harald Hahn, the El Paso Times says “Harold Hahn, president of Rocky Mountain Mortgage Co., gave $10,000 to the committee and $1,000 to Niland's campaign in February,” and regarding Naomi Gonzalez, now Texas state representative, “The Citizens for Prosperity PAC also supported Naomi Gonzalez's unsuccessful 2008 campaign for the City Council, according to finance reports” (04/16/2011).

Citizens for Prosperity PAC (22)           $2000 in-kind consulting

Citizens for Prosperity PAC (22)            $2000 in-kind consulting

Aaron Chiv (22)                                     $1500

Adam Frank (12)                                   $1350

El Paso Association of Builders (05)      $1,000

Harald Hahn (79935)                            $1000

Robert Wingo (12)                                 $1000

Wiliam Lovelady (79853)                       $1,000

Robert Hoy (22)                                    $1,000

Woody Hunt (13) PO Box                      $1000

El Paso Municipal Police Officers PAC $1000

Stanley Jobe (28)                                 $1000

Randel O'Leary (15)                             $1000

Leonard Goodman III (22)                    $1,000

Stanley Jobe (28)                                 $1000

Texas Association of 

Realtors (78768 – Austin, TX)              $1,000

Gereld Rubin (12)                                $1000

Adam Frank (12)                                  $675 in kind office space

Jospeh Hansen (79936)                      $500

Adam & Dana Frank (79912)              $500

Lawrence Francis (12)                         $500

John & Carroll Maxon (12)                 $500

Clinton Dean (02)                               $500

Britt Porter (22)                                   $500

John Skidmore (22)                             $500

Irving Brown (12)                                 $500

Robert Niland (02)                               $500

Suzanne Dipp (40 PO Box)                  $500

HNTB Holding (25)                              $500 --- Harvey K. Hammond Jr. CEO see OpenSecrets.org dossier on this group at http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00386029

Susan Carlise (77478 – Sugerland TX) – 323.32 in-kind food

Tracy Yellen (79902)                            $250

Robert Kleberg (79922)                        $250

Julie & Felipe Perez (12)                     $250

Juan Escobar (22)                                $250

Keeli & Jay Jernigan (22)                   $250

David & Cindy Osborn (12)                  $250

Robert Bowling (24)                            $250

Mr. and Mrs. Rod Davenport               $200

Scott Walker (32)                                $200

Clement & Amy Marcus (22)              $200

Connie & Michael Smith (79912)       $200

Thomas Yegge (36)                              $200

Dennis Healy (12)                               $200

Meyer Marcus (25)                              $200

Richard Rotwein (22)                           $200

Robort Ayoub (22)                               $200

Bryan Hall                                           $200

Stephen Yegge (12)                             $200

Ashley Bowling (79912)                      $200

Larry Romero (03)                               $200

Eileen Karlsrutter (12)                        $150

Will Brown (22)                                   $150

Stephanie & Kirk Roselund (12)         $100

Sam Paxton (12)                                 $100

Caroline Whitmore (22)                      $100

Sue Helsten (22)                                $100

Rita Baca (12)                                     $50

John Wilbanks (12)                             $50

Alicia Gasca (14063 Fredonia, NY) -   $50

A Look at the Forest of Contributions

Contributions to Niland are impressive, a total of $33,358, especially in comparison to her competitors. I have posted her competitors totals below:

District 8 Candidate Total Donations

Malcolm MacGregor III $545

Ernesto Villanueva $4610

Sergio Contreras $110

Niland received $28,748 more in contributions than the next candidate Ernesto Villanueva.

Many Parts of the Elephant

We've all heard the analogy of the blind men feeling the different parts of an elephant but not know what it is because they have not put all the parts together. Well, here's a look at the different pats of the Elephant and we'll let you put it together.

Most Contributions came from 79922 and 12

Although 79922 and 79912 are only the parts of the Westside of District 8, they make up the majority of her contributions (See El Paso Zip Code Map). There were no contributions from south of I-10, none from Segundo Barrio, Chihuahuita, Chamizal, Buena Vista, none.

Some notes on other donors. In the 79922 and 79913 zip code, Open Secret.org lists Woody Hunt as one of the largest political contributors in 2012 with their donations going to Rick Perry (see Open Secret Donations for the 79913 zip code).

79912 (see zip code map for El Paso)

Bob Wingo is listed as one of the largest contributors in the 79912 zip code with $2500 going to Rick Perry in 2012. Also among Niland's contributors in the 79912 zip code was Gerald Rubin of Helen of Troy. Both and his wife have given over $5,000 to Rick Perry in 2012.

Contribution from Outside: 79935 and 24 (See El Paso Zip Code Map)

Also, among Niland's biggest donors is Harold Hahn of the 79935 zip code who is listed was one of Ricky Perrry's biggest donors in 2012 with $4,800 going to Rick Perry this year. From the 79936 zip code (see El Paso Zip Code map), Niland received donations from Harold Hahn who we talk about above in Citizens for Prosperity. In 2012, Hahn has given $2500 to Rick Perry and I assume his wife and other family member have each given $2500 to Perry. 

Niland received money from the Robert Bowling of Tropicana Homes although be it a small $250 donation. Bowling was one of the biggest political contributors in the 79924 zip code with $1,000 going to the Patrick Tiberi ( R). Other Bowling family members gave contributions to the National Association of Homebuilders ($5000), Francisco Conseco ( R )

79902 (See El Paso Zip Code Map)

In the 79902 zip code, Woody L. Hunt give $2500 to Rick Perry in 2012. Also in 79902, Lawrence Francis who give $500 to Niland and gave $2500 to Ricky Perry in 2012. Francis is associated with Bank of the West (El Paso). It also appears his wife or other related family member gave $2500 to Rick Perry (see largest contributions for the 79902 zip code on Opensecrets.org).

Problems with District 8's Boundaries (see District 8 Map)

We have previously discuss reservations about how District 8 was redrawn in 2000. Simply, it puts the poorest parts of El Paso (Chamizal, Segundo Barrio, Buena Vista, Calavera, Pacific Park) with the richest parts of El Paso. 79922 and 79912 can simply outspend and out vote any candidate in the poorer 79901, 79902, and 79903 areas of El Paso. Don't believe me. Here is a breakdown of donations from the zip codes in Cortney Niland's district (District 8):

79901      $0.00

79902      $1250

79903      $200

79905       $0.00

79912       $7675

79922       $13,000

79930      $0.00

79932      $0.00

As for her competing candidates, it's not worth going into where their contribution came from when they were dwarfed by Niland's contributors. However, you can see their disclosures by clicking here: District 8 Candidate Financial Disclosures. We hope you can see the big elephant in the room.