Politics
An ethics complaint filed against former Cumby mayoral candidate Ryan Horne has been rendered void, according to a statement from the Texas Ethics Commission.
Cumby Alderman Julie Morris filed the complaint, signed Oct. 25, alleging Horne had violated five campaign rules all falling under Texas Election Code Title 15: Regulating Political Funds and Campaigns, according to the complaint.
Morris alleged Horne failed to include a right-of-way notice on his political signs, appoint a campaign treasurer, file pre-election reports, disclose political contributions and complete affidavit on campaign finance reports.
The complaint was received by the TEC Nov. 4 and dismissed on Nov. 12. According to the TEC, the complaint was dismissed due to incomplete information from the filing party, Morris.
TEC found in the case of Morris’s first complaint Horne did not file campaign finance reports, could not be substantiated because Morris, did not include a time frame under which the violations allegedly occurred or specific reports required to be filed.
In the case of Morris’s second complaint, that Horne did not disclose political contributions, the TEC found that Morris did not alleged that Horne accepted any contributions in the first place.
In the case of Morris’s third complaint, that Horne did not file pre-election reports, TEC noted that such reports are only required for candidates with an opponent who have also designated a campaign treasurer.
In the case of Morris’s fourth complaint, that Horne did not disclose political advertising and highway right-of-way notice, TEC found that Morris did not include pictures of any signs that allegedly violated the code.
The complaint by Morris “does not provide sufficient detail to reasonably place the respondent [Horne] on notice of the manner and means by which the violation allegedly occurred,” the TEC noted.
Morris also did not include required information about herself necessary to file such a complaint, such as a driver’s license and proof of residence, TEC stated.
During Cumby’s Nov. 12 regular city council meeting, Morris stated she didn’t “think this is the place or time to talk about it” in regards to why she filed a complaint with TEC instead of informing Horne personally about the alleged violations.
“I think you have your answers,” Morris said. “I think that what I did was probably a far-fetched answer to the problem, but I don’t want our city to get in trouble.”
Contributing factors to the decision included frequent public information requests, Morris said.
“We get open records requests constantly. … They’re steady and it’s just constant and we provide everything y’all ask for. … I want everything to be on the up and up,” she said.
“I don’t have a problem with Ryan, I certainly don’t,” Morris added. “What I have a problem with is his cheer-leading team.”
Horne, who narrowly lost the mayoral seat to Douglas Simmerman 71-68 in the Nov. 5 election, said the complaint made it “uncalled for.”
“It had nothing to do with the city,” Horne said. “It is my opinion that [Morris] was very much trying to make it difficult for me, or in case I won, they’d have something to come at me with.”
Horne said he does not believe his then-opponent, newly-elected mayor Doug Simmerman, had anything to do with the complaint.
Horne stated that he was “not discouraged at all” by the events and said he plans to run again in the upcoming city council election, slated for May 20, 2020.
“Only losing by four votes, … I take that as a big win, and I think the community were heard loud and clear,” Horne said.