Dallas county tax assessor candidate has conflict of interest?

[crispini]

LOL. Looks like one of our Democratic tax assessor candidates has some real conflict of interest stuff going on. And THIS is the guy that the Dallas Managed News actually ENDORSED. LOL.

This is a press release, so have reprinted in full.

****** MEDIA RELEASE ******
DIANA LACKEY Candidate For Dallas County
Tax Assessor-Collector 2008
Immediate Release:
Contact: Diana Lackey Campaign Date: 02/18/08
Telephone: [phone]
Email:
[e-mail]
www.DianaLackey.com
The public’s interest vs special interest...

Trust and confidence in the County Tax Assessor Collector position is a cornerstone of Diana
Lackey’s campaign. Diana believes that the public deserves an elected official who places the
interest of the voters and community first, above self-interest or special interests.
As of the most recent filing of the candidates’ campaign finance reports, one opponent, Mr.
Ames, has accepted funds from a special interest, third party. Well over half of the campaign
contributions accepted by him come from one vendor, and its staff, who contracts with the
County to collect the delinquent taxes.

Who contributes to a campaign is of public interest. In an online questionnaire, the Dallas
Morning News asked candidates to list their top three contributors. Mr. Ames failed to list his
top two contributors, from the vendor, who gave thousands of dollars of ‘in kind’ contribution to
his campaign. Why not?

“It is unfortunate that a candidate would fail to respond accurately to the newspaper’s
questionnaire on such a sensitive topic,” stated Diana Lackey. “ For elected officials, or a
government office, it is essential that there not be even the appearance of a conflict of interest. I
would not accept campaign funds from a vendor dealing directly with the Tax Office. As your
Assessor-Collector, I would insure that there were departmental policies in place to prevent the
acceptance of gifts. This is similar to the conflict of interest policies I previously established as a
county Assistant Assessor managing a department of over 240 employees. I wanted an office
above reproach.”

Diana Lackey was the Democratic Nominee in 2004. She is currently seeking the position of
Dallas County Tax Assessor-Collector in the Democratic contested 2008 primary. Elected
officials, unlike vendors, have a fiduciary responsibility to the public. Ms. Lackey asserted that
when elected Tax Assessor Collector, taxpayers can be assured that she will represent the public’s
interests, and not that of special interests.