The TRWD Election Propaganda Spewings Of Self-Entitled Dowager Heiress Marty Leonard

On the left you are looking at a letter I found in my mailbox this morning from Marty Leonard.

Marty Leonard is a Tarrant Regional Water District Board Member who is not up for election on May 11. The intent of Marty Leonard's letter is to ask her "Friends" to vote for 3 of her TRWD Board cohorts who are up for election.

Marty Leonard's letter contains the information that it is a "Political Advertisement Paid By Vic Henderson Campaign, Jack Stevens Campaign and Hal Sparks Campaign."

Marty Leonard's letter includes "some voter assistance cards with an endorsement from Mayor Betsy Price" so "You can take these cards with you into the polls."

On Marty Leonard's voter assistance cards it says "Politcal Advertisement Paid For By Clean Water Committee."

You can see a copy of Marty Leonard's voter assistance card below, which you can feel free to print to take with you to the polls to make sure you don't accidentally vote for any of these three whom Marty Leonard suggests you vote for.

I  found the section of Marty Leonard's propaganda letter that is highlighted in yellow, and copied below, to be particularly offensive...

Many of you have received in the mail several NEGATIVE and FALSE propaganda pieces from a group running for Tarrant Regional Water District under the banner of "B-N-K." First let me strongly recommend that you NOT vote for any of these candidates. Their gross distortion of the water board is being heavily funded (maybe as much as $200,000) by a controversial businessman from Dallas who is trying to block one of our critical water pipelines from crossing some land he owns in East Texas. His dubious slate of candidates includes a bankrupt candidate who doesn't even live in the TRWD district, another who is being sued by TRWD  for being a tax deadbeat, and another with a meager voting record.

Marty Leonard seems to fall into the Kay Granger mold of ironically spewing that which she accuses others of spewing, as in Marty Leonard's spewage of negative, false propaganda  in the above paragraph.

I believe the Dallas businessman to whom Marty Leonard refers may be Monty Bennett, he being the guy suing the TRWD Board for declaratory and injunctive relief concerning violations by the TRWD of the Texas Open Meetings Act. I blogged about this way back on March 19 in a post titled Is It Not About Time Someone Sues The Tarrant Regional Water District Over Texas Open Meetings Violations?

As for Marty Leonard characterizing the B-N-K opponents as being a dubious slate of candidates somehow working at the behest of this Dallas businessman, well, I already opined that Marty Leonard is spewing propaganda.

Reprehensible propaganda.

As for Marty Leonard's characterizations of the 3 candidates, with one being bankrupt, one being a deadbeat and one having a meager voting record.

A "meager voting record?" How scandalous.

John Basham is the candidate Marty Leonard refers to as bankrupt. From the B-N-K website regarding John Basham....

John Austin Basham is the founder, president, and senior meteorologist of Storm Spotter Live, a weather consulting and atmospheric data solutions company for the emergency management  energy, transportation, and education industries.

Shortly after September 11, 2001, Basham joined the Texas Army National Guard where he became trained as a combat medic. While on active duty, during a training mission, John received a serious and permanent injury to his spinal cord while carrying an injured soldier to safety. In spite of his injury, Basham continues to serve in the Texas Army National Guard as well as run and grow his company.

Timothy Nold is the candidate Marty Leonard refers to as a deadbeat. From the B-N-K website regarding Timothy Nold....

Timothy Nold is a professional land surveyor working primarily in land development, transportation, petroleum and infrastructure. He is the survey group manager for Shield Engineering Group in downtown Fort Worth. Nold is a volunteer and board chairman for a non-profit historic preservation organization. He is also working to restore his 1910 house in the historic Rock Island neighborhood located on the site of Gruenwald’s Pavilion, the Samuels Farm and the Terry Plantation, a debate and rally site visited by Sam Houston during his campaign for Governor in 1857.

Mary Kelleher is the candidate Marty Leonard refers to as having a meager voting record. From the B-N-K website regarding Mary Kelleher....

Mary Kelleher and her husband have farmed almost 200 acres of land on the east side of Fort Worth for 17 years; cutting and baling nearby hay fields, raising beef cattle, and raising various breeds of chickens and other fowl.  She has worked with troubled youth in Tarrant County for over two decades. 

Kelleher knows first-hand the consequences when our elected leaders abuse their power. She successfully battled the threat of eminent domain being used to confiscate her property, but unfortunately her well water is no longer drinkable and her farm has been subjected to unprecedented and devastating flooding.

I think Marty Leonard's morally bankrupt low blow directed at John Basham is a fairly good indicator of the quality of character Marty Leonard possesses. She being a self-entitled dowager heiress who has never had to worry about money due to daddy being a department store magnate.

Meanwhile, John Basham, an actual contributor to American society, was injured while serving his country, with the consequence, as happens to way too many who serve, of John Basham running into financial woes, whilst recovering from his injuries.

And Marty Leonard and her corrupt cohorts use this against this man?

This rather sickens me.

Marty Leonard should be ashamed of herself. If this woman had a fraction of an ounce of moral decency she would resign from the TRWD Board due to her wantonly displayed moral bankruptcy.

It further offends me that Marty Leonard has the raw gall to characterize these 3 good people as being unqualified to be elected to "Our Board."

"OUR BOARD?"

It's the People's Board you pearls clutching self-entitled dowager heiress, NOT "YOUR BOARD."

Reading the short bios of Basham, Nold and Kelleher, it seems to me they are more than qualified to look after the water interests of the citizens who live in the Tarrant Regional Water District.

And what exactly are Marty Leonard's qualifications to be on this Board? Other than being a self-entitled dowager heiress?

Below is Marty Leonard's Voter Assistance Card which you can take with you to the polls to remind yourself not to vote for any of the 3 candidates this self-entitled dowager heiress is recommending...

A 38 Degree First Friday Of May Arctic Blast Swim In Texas With Incoming Propaganda

As you can see, via a screencap of the info from my computer based weather monitoring device, the predicted Arctic Blast of record breaking cold arrived on schedule.

However, the predicted precipitation did not precipitate, at least at my location.

I thought it likely swimming would not be doable this morning.

I thought wrong.

The water in the pool was way less cool than the temperature of the air. So, I had myself a real  fine time swimming in the chill this morning. I did end the swim with a hot tub bout just to make sure I did not have a shivering bout due to my numbed temperature monitoring nerves no longer giving reliable feedback.

Speaking of nerves.

I checked my mailbox this morning to find incoming propaganda from Marty Leonard. Marty Leonard is a pearl clutching dowager heiress who is one of the Tarrant Regional Water District Board Members not up for election on May 11.

I also found a new mailer in my mailbox from Captain Clean and the BNK TRWD Flushers.

I have scanned Captain Clean's latest mailer and Marty Leonard's letter to her "Dear Friends." I must ponder the apparent hubris of an entitled heiress for a moment or two and then do some blogging...

Betsy Price Should Think Twice Before Joining A Floundering Local Water Protection Team About To Get Flushed

The score  is now 4 to 2 in the TRWD Board Election Mailer War.

The TRWD Opponents to the TRWD Incumbents have mailed 4 legitimate campaign mailers, while the TRWD Incumbents have mailed 1 bogus campaign mailer disguised as a Board Report, and a seemingly legitimate campaign mailer from the TRWD Incumbents, which showed up in my mailbox this morning.

Unlike the TRWD Incumbent's previous illegit campaign mailer the new one clearly states "Political advertising paid for by CLEAN WATER COMMITTEE."

I have never heard of the CLEAN WATER COMMITTEE, have you? Is Captain Clean on the CLEAN WATER COMMITTEE?

This first legit TRWD Incumbent mailer of the campaign headlines Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price's recommendations for "OUR LOCAL WATER PROTECTION TEAM."

In other words, the Incumbents.

The mailer notes that the TRWD Incumbents have been endorsed by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, with the Star-Telegram opining that "they have led the way in planning a system of lakes and pipelines to serve local and regional water needs for the next 50 years."

Huh?

I thought one of the TRWD water problems was that Fort Worth and its surrounding area is predicted to have some upcoming water woes, to the extent that the TRWD has been engaged into trying to finagle Oklahoma out of some of its water.

Among the propaganda tidbits on the TRWD Incumbent Mailer is an item in the upper right of the side of the mailer you see on the left.

Under the heading "TARRANT REGIONAL WATER  DISTRICT PROVIDES..." is a list of 4, detailing what the TRWD Incumbents want us to believe they provide....

1. A safe, reliable supply of water to meet the current and future needs of our families and businesses. 
2. An extremely effective and extensive flood control system that protects our homes and property.
3. Extensive water conservation efforts that protect our environment and water supplies for future generations.
4. Wise and conservative stewardship of our tax dollars.

Let's take a look at #2 on this list. The TRWD is in cahoots with the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle to take down Trinity River levees that you in the rest of America helped pay for over a half century ago. This sort of segues to #4 on the list.

Conservative stewardship of our tax dollars? Spending tax dollars to build an unneeded flood diversion channel that will be needed when the already paid for, functioning perfect, levees are removed? If that is wise stewardship of our tax dollars I can not imagine what un-wise stewardship of our tax dollars would look like.  Maybe un-wise stewardship of our tax dollars would be something like a small public agency using public funds to buy a helicopter to use on duck hunting sorties.

In #3 the TRWD makes the claim that their efforts protect our water supplies for future generations. How many million gallons of water has the TRWD sold the Barnett Shale Natural Gas Drillers? How many millions of those gallons of water have been chemically contaminated by the fracking process, then injected into underground structures, endangering aquifers?

Back to #2 and the TRWD's claim to have provided an effective flood control system. Ever heard of Haltom City? That town is in the Tarrant Regional Water District. A creek or two runs through Haltom City. Ever heard of Fossil Creek?

People have died in Haltom City flash floods. Booming development in north Tarrant County covered a lot of land with impermeable material, like asphalt. Nothing was done to help mitigate the resulting increase in water flow. Hence the Haltom City flash floods.

While the TRWD focuses its attention on the Trinity River Vision and its unneeded flood control alterations, the flood dangers that come with heavy rain, in Haltom City, have received little attention.

The TRWD brags about a flood control system that protects our homes and property. Apparently that claim should be amended to being a flood control system that protects our homes and property if you live in an area of the Tarrant Regional Water District that the Water Board deems worthy of their attention.

I am almost 100% certain I will be ignoring the advice of Betsy Price and the Star-Telegram and will instead be  voting for Basham, Nold and Kelleher, in the hope that a minor revolution is about to flush over the TRVD

An Early May Arctic Blast Makes For A Chilly Texas

Supposedly when the Arctic Blast makes its predicted arrival in the D/FW zone we will know it has arrived because the temperature will drop 15 - 20 degrees in about a half an hour.

20 degrees colder than the current temperature would be 28 degrees, if my math is correct.

Freezing in May?

When is that much promised Global Warming ever going to arrive?

I remember way back in May of 2000 I had driven up to Washington to attend a funeral. On the way back to Texas, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, I was quite surprised to learn I could travel no further south due to the freeway being closed due to snow. One could not head south, east or west from Cheyenne. This had the motels getting full. I got the next to last room at a Super 8.

I doubt we will be getting any snow in Texas from this Arctic Blast.

This morning whilst in the pool a very light drizzle precipitated. And speaking of the pool. The pool was way less cool than the air, so much so that the temperature differential created the illusion that the pool was heated.

Congresswoman Kay Granger Ironically Claims TRWD Board Election Full Of Lies, Misinformation & Meritless Accusations

Yikes. The Tarrant Regional Water District Board Election keeps getting curiouser and curiouser.

This morning I blogged about an Anonymous TRWD Super Villain who was making what seemed to me to be unfounded criticisms of those opposing the TRWD incumbents.

And now I have received a letter, sent  by Congresswoman Kay Granger to her constituents, in which Kay Granger attacks those running against the TRWD incumbents.

Kay Granger is J.D. Granger's mom, with J.D. Granger being the unqualified guy nepotistically installed to run the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle Project, with many thinking J.D got this job so as to have his mom onboard with helping get federal money for the TRV Boondoggle.

In her letter Granger claims to have never seen a campaign with more misinformation and flat out lies as what she is seeing in the TRWD Board Election. Granger also claims the opponents have sent out mailer after mailer filled with meritless accusations.

And what would those meritless accusations, flat out lies and misinformation be, Congresswoman Granger?

Kay Granger can no more come up with facts to support her meritless attack than she can come up with credentials showing her son to be qualified to run a billion dollar public works project.

Regarding the letter from Kay Granger, if I was going to post this letter, I was asked to remove the Board member names, replacing them with "Incumbent" because "we don't want to give those bastards any more free ad space." Rather than alter Kay Granger's letter in that drastic a manner, I altered the names in a less drastic manner.

The next two paragraphs I believe were written by Adrian Murray, followed by the notorious letter from Fort Worth's Congresswoman, Kay Granger....

Somebody is not too happy about the way the Water Board election is shaping up. You'd think a Congresswoman would have more important things to do than worry about a local water district race, unless, of course, she has a vested interest in the outcome. You don't think......? Nah. Everything is on the up and up.

BTW, when she says, "The people who make up the board are just the kind of people we want", take her at her word. They are exactly the kind of people they want: don't ask questions, do what you're told, don't make waves, do as we say.

Dear (Name Redacted),

I have been through elections from Fort Worth City Council, to Mayor to Congress from Fort Worth, but I have never seen a campaign with more misinformation and flat out lies than what I am seeing in the May 11 election for the Tarrant Regional Water District.

Friends, I know the people who run the Tarrant Regional Water District. I work with them. The people who make up the board are just the kind of people we want to make decisions about the precious commodity that is our water. The people who serve today are Marty Leonard, Jim Lane, Vic Henderson, Hal Sparks and Jack Stevens. They are active in the community and have a long history of meeting our water needs and managing our resources. Just last week they traveled to Washington to show support as a vital water issue went before the Supreme Court. The Tarrant Regional Water District is respected throughout our state and our region and has won many awards for their efficient and effective leadership year after year.

Three opponents to the incumbents up for election have sent out mailer after mailer filled with accusations that are completely without merit. None of these opponents have been involved in water issues, paid attention by attending board meetings or attempted to set forth their histories, positions or reasons you should elect them. All they have done is send negative attack mailers financed by a Dallas citizen with an axe to grind against our board. Our elected board follows the rules, does not seek publicity or use their positions for anything except making good decisions for us and our water.

This election will choose the top three vote getters. Three members of the board are up for re-election and early voting has already started. Please join me in voting for these fine public servants.

VIC HENDERSON
HAL SPARKS 
JACK STEVENS 

Sincerely,

Kay

A Gateway Park Bike Ride Reading A Letter From Kay Granger With Connie D's Jalapeno Cornbread Poppers

Even though I had myself a real fine time, with Captain Clean, biking the Gateway Park mountain bike trail today, I did not feel like getting off the bike, getting out the camera and taking yet one more photo of my bike's handlebars sitting on a trail.

My momentary aversion to being repetitive will likely last less than 24 hours.

Or be over right now.

In addition to having a real fine time on my bike, earlier this morning I had a real fine time in the pool.

By tomorrow morning the pool should be more cool, what with an Arctic Blast blowing in, with the incoming cold expected to bring record breaking low temperatures. Which should make the pool feel way warmer than the air, come tomorrow morning.

A few minutes ago I received a letter that Congresswoman Kay Granger sent to her Fort Worth cronies. Earlier today I blogged about an Anonymous TRWD Super Villain.

I am almost 100% certain Kay Granger was not that Anonymous TRWD Super Villain, but reading her letter makes me wonder if my almost 100% certainty may be  erroneous.

Enough about political corruption, for now.

I know you are wondering what you are looking at in the picture above. That is a pizza pan in my oven. But, that is not pizza on the pizza pan.

A day or two ago, on Facebook, Connie D. (Fort Worth), not to be confused with Connie D. (Tacoma) posted the directions for making atn item called Jalapeno Cornbread Poppers.

I am not a big fan of following recipes. Recipes are way too much like someone telling me what to do, which usually makes me uncooperative. But, Connie D.'s Facebook photo of Jalapeno Cornbread Poppers looked so good I copied the directions. That and the directions appeared to be simple enough that I could handle following them.

So, I took 12  large jalapenos and sliced them lengthwise, removing the seeds and guts. Followed the directions on a Texas Style Honey Sweet Cornbread Mix I got at Walmart, mixed in a can of corn kernels, drained, of course. Mixed in a cup of shredded sharp cheese. Scooped the corn bread mix into the jalapeno halves, then spread another half cup of shredded sharp cheese on top. Baked 20 minutes at 350.

Delicious.

Thank you, Connie D. (Fort Worth)

TRWD Super Hero Captain Clean Attacked By Anonymous TRWD Super Villain

Last night the following blog post comment showed up....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Why Is Captain Clean So Mad At The TRWD Board One Can Not Help But Wonder?": 

Claims made by Captain Clean are based on 10-15 year old data. They have also failed to provide their plan for solving water quantity/quality issues. I'm always leary of group campaigns. These guys are just not passing the smell test.

To what Captain Clean outdated data claims is this Anonymous Villain referring?

The Captain Clean campaign mailer to which the Anonymous Villain refers contains no informational data.

In this mailer the main thing that Captain Clean is mad about is the fact that the TRWD Board spent money on a helicopter to facilitate flying to a private deer hunting preserve.

Does the TRWD Board no longer have this luxury helicopter? Was it 10-15 years ago the TRWD whirlybirded to do some deer hunting?

In this mailer Captain Clean is also mad about how polluted the Trinity River is.

Regarding the polluted Trinity River Captain Clean has previously said, "WFAA News recently reported that four out of five testing sites along the river in Fort Worth had dangerously high levels of E.Coli bacteria (from fecal matter) present; well above what the E.P.A. recommends as acceptable."

The Anonymous Villain is "leary" of group campaigns? Since "leary" is not a word I'm not certain what point the Anonymous Villain thinks he or she is making.

The "group campaign is not passing the smell test?"

The "group campaign" is failing to provide a plan for solving water quantity/quality issues?

Perhaps the Anonymous Villain neglected to check out the BNK Flush the TRWD website, where the Anonymous Villain might learn something about the current TRWD Record, based on current reality, not reality from 10-15 years ago...

Thinking About Doing Some Uncling With Mountain Lupine After My Mom Called About Getting Gas

With today being the last day of the month, with the month being April, I did what I always do on the last day of the month when the month is April, I went to Arlington's Village Creek Natural Historical Area to walk with the Indian Ghosts who haunt this naturally historic area.

In the picture you are looking at one of the Village Creek Natural Historical Area's Wildflower Areas.

This particular Wildflower Area is predominately colored by Pink Evening Primroses. You do see some other wildflowers when you are up close to this Wildflower Area, as in there are some Mountain Lupine (aka Bluebonnets) wildflowers trying to be noticed.

I heard on the radio this morning that an Arctic Blast is heading to North Texas, arriving on Friday, with record breaking low temperatures predicted, as in way closer to freezing than is the norm for early May at this location on the planet.

Speaking of the temperature, my mom called me this morning because, apparently, I have not called in awhile to tell my mom I got gas, how much the gas cost and what the temperature is. The Phoenix zone is already having 100 degree plus temperatures.

My mom asked me when I'm heading up to Washington. Why are so many people thinking I am heading up to Washington? Did I have a sleep walking episode and do some erroneous communicating?

I actually would like to head up to Washington and do some uncling.

Apparently uncling is not a word, because it just got red-flagged as a misspelling.

The lunch gong just went off. I must go have a feeding now.

Complaint Filed With The Texas Ethics Commission Over TRWD's Misuse Of Public Funds

On Friday I blogged about what I thought to be an ethically corrupt use of taxpayer funds by the Tarrant Regional Water District Board in a post titled Taking A Corrupt Shot From Tarrant Regional Water District Board Incumbents.

The following day the corrupt use of taxpayer funds showed up in my mailbox and in a blog post titled I Found 10 Pages Of Tarrant Regional Water District Propaganda In My Mailbox This Morning.

A lot of voters in the Tarrant Regional Water District zone are in extreme umbrage mode over the TRWD Board's unethical antics.

Including Fort Worth's Adrian Murray.

Today Adrian Murray announced, on Facebook that he....

Filed complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission this morning over TRWD's misuse of public funds in printing and mailing a 10 page 4 color glossy brochure promoting the Board of Directors just days before early voting begins in the board election.  Three fifths of the board is up for reelection and this was clearly a campaign mailer and should be paid for by the incumbents, not the taxpayer.

Addendum: The complaint filed with the Texas Ethics Commission is against each TRWD Board Member, individually, as in a separate complaint against each of the 5 Board Members, Victor W. Henderson, Hal S. Sparks, Jack Stevens, Marty Leonard and Jim Lane.

Texas Ethics Commission? Is this some sort of oxymoron? Or is this a rare legit Texas commission that has not been co-opted by the foxes that the commission is supposed to keep out of the henhouse?

Wikipedia has a short article about the Texas Ethics Commission, consisting of the following 4 paragraphs...

The Texas Ethics Commission was established in 1991 to "provide guidance on various public ethics laws" within the state of Texas. The agency is headquartered on the 10th Floor of the Sam Houston State Office Building at 201 East 14th Street in Downtown Austin.

It was created by a state constitutional amendment voted on by the voters on November 5, 1991, Article III, Section 24a.

It consists of 8 members and legislators are excluded from serving. By the constitution, the ethics commission recommends the salaries of members of the Texas Legislature, the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

The legislature has also given the commission various other duties, including the filing of financial disclosure statements for government officials.

I can not help but wonder if the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is going to share with its dwindling number of readers the information that a complaint has been filed with the Texas Ethics Commission regarding alleged misuse of public funds by the TRWD Board.

Such an allegation seems totally newsworthy to me...

My Niece Ruby's Skagit Valley Texas Bluebonnets

A couple days ago I blogged Blue & Max Take David, Theo & Ruby For A Muddy Romp In A Tulip-less Skagit Valley Field regarding Blue & Max taking two of my nephews and my only niece to the Skagit Valley to tiptoe through the tulips.

In that particular blogging I complained that I had politely asked my poodle nephews to get a good photo of David, Theo & Ruby surrounded by tulips.

All I got was the trio in a field of mud.

But, today Blue & Max were looking through the pictures they took of their trip to the tulips and found the above beauty with Ruby standing in front of a lot of colorful flowers, some of which are tulips.

I found the blue flowers behind the first row of purple tulips to be interesting. These blue flowers appear to be Texas Bluebonnets.

The last time I was on Mount Rainier, August 11, 2008, I made the mistake of opining that a particular wildflower looked to be a Texas Bluebonnet. If I remember right I was told what I was looking at was a Mountain Lupine.

Well, color me shocked. I was right. The Mountain Lupine is a Bluebonnet. The state flower of Texas grows on Mount Rainier. And on the Flats of the Skagit Valley.