Seeing his numbers crash like the Titanic, Sheriff Adrian Garcia violates Federal Law in seekingappointment to Board of Directors of LifeGift, an Organ Donation 501c3 TAX EXEMPT NON- PROFIT, in the middle of an election! The Press Releases from LifeGift and HCSO announce in neon lights that “Mr. Do Great Things” is doing charity work! I am nauseated, and dumbfounded! Does anyone not see Adrian Garcia’s dog and pony show but me? By accepting a position on the Board of Directors of LifeGift, with the 501c3 and the 501c3 risks losing it all, to paint the town red for Garcia. I foresee Nora with 6 figure desk job? Nope! Guthrie has it. But hey ABC, NBC, CBS: Do you care this charade is endangering lives and blatantly violating the Tax Code?
Tax exempt entities are NOT PERMITTED to sing a Political Candidate’s praises during an election! It’s called ELECTIONEERING and you will lose millions in federal funding and tax breaks for those who give! It can be a 501c3!s “kiss of death.” and, its so strictly enforced (against conservatives and Churches), its best not to even look a candidate’s way. I learned this after begging several mega-Churches to host Bipartisan Candidate Forums, with all candidates all parties invited– NO! NO! NO! Given that Adrian Garcia’s World is a “dog and pony show,” he approaches most problems with an eye on his REPUTATION!
Officer Morale–all time low. Why? Mirror anyone? Adrian Garcia CLEARLY got appointed to Nora’s LifeGift’s Board of Directors to help his “image,” gain your affections, distort your thinking, and convince you he’s a good guy! Ask the Harris County Deputies–who are about as tired of him as Lykos! I need more perfume for this corpse! The Chief Law Enforcement Goodfella of Harris County violates Federal Law with impunity to manipulate public perception for personal gain! Ignorance is no excuse! But its appalling for several reasons. “If” Nora’s LifeGift is busted by the IRS, people will DIE. With no 501c3, LifeGift gets no more cash from the Federal Government and those waiting on life saving organs–SORRY–when LifeGift goes under!
Had the Sheriff done this “outside” of an election, I would have respected him–even with knowledge that most Boards do next to nothing. I’ve had working Directors and Directors who hardly made time for 15 minute conference calls. Most want the prestige, offering nothing in return. As a working Board Chairman of a 1208 member Texas Non-Profit I held together for 2 years, with 2 women, I was unnerved by apathy–but my people wouldnt dream of exploiting it. Even not being 501c3, I would not have tolerated it. Well, the IRS Code suggests they don’t either–though Obama targeting TEA Party Groups and Churches does not leave me in a delusion that they will do anything to LifeGift. I DO NOT WANT THEM LOSING 501c3–people will die. But I also don’t like the cheap swindle to win an election.
Last Fall, our wonderful Chairman, Scott McLemore, departed after two years of faithful service. I am now Chairman of the Board of Attorneys for Special Needs Children (Atty4kids), but we invited a person I truly respect to step in. He is a leader in Houston, but I’m not going to identify–because he never considered it for HIM! It was always for kids. Please don’t speculate. It could be anyone. The point is...he never saw “opportunity” (though public exposure is a given). This man supported us and brought more support our way! Much needed respite. declined in great humility! No press releases, not a word. Kind of appropriate? Yet rare.
It’s unacceptable that Sheriff Adrian Garcia and his posse focused immediately on the Press Releases! The pats on the back! Folks, the pats belong to faceless, nameless individuals who got their hands quite dirty, worked hard, and benefitted others through their servant’s heart. They did not need P.R. One mom said, “pay stinks, but the benefits cannot be beat!” She worked very hard– going to lengths youd hardly believe. But, she knew, she was making a difference. My left and right hands Carried me. War zone! Not one complaint. One mom echoed,saying her husband saw a sparkle in her eyes, joy, and she knew it fed her soul. I agree. BUT BECOMING JOHN JACOB ASTER to ger re-elected...you answer. The IRC 501c3 says its illegal electioneering. Not even a close call.
Electioneering has been defined and refined by the Internal Revenue Service because crafty political candidates like Garcia won’t stop. This is a great article explaining many acts that constitute electioneering. Unnecessary but for the crafty politicians who find more grey areas. Garcia is endangering the ability of desperately sick citizens getting rare organ transplants to live. This is real to me–with a friend in his mid-40!s already requiring two. Electioneering can exist where a 501c3 even looks a Candidates’ way. 501c3!s risk losing all if the public sees even a slight preference for one candidate. If Garcia had refrained from the irresistable impulse to ensure press releases filled the News of his “gift,” he was on thin ice, but the Press Releases issued by LifeGift went WAY OVER THE TOP! I can almost guarantee if a Tea Party Group or Evangelical Church did ths, they’d be skewered. Not giving legal advice. Common sense suggests he back out. Being buddies with Obama and Sheila Jackson “Purple and Gold” Lee tells me he’s fine, as is the “Non-Profit.” Bottom line: WRONG!
Electioneering has been defined and refined by the Internal Revenue Service because crafty political candidates like Garcia won’t stop. This is a great article explaining many acts that constitute electioneering. Unnecessary but for the crafty politicians who find more grey areas. Garcia is endangering the ability of desperately sick citizens getting rare organ transplants to live. This is real to me–with a friend in his mid-40!s already requiring two. Electioneering can exist where a 501c3 even looks a Candidates’ way. 501c3!s risk losing all if the public sees even a slight preference for one candidate. If Garcia had refrained from the irresistable impulse to ensure press releases filled the News of his “gift,” he was on thin ice, but the Press Releases issued by LifeGift went WAY OVER THE TOP! I can almost guarantee if a Tea Party Group or Evangelical Church did ths, they’d be skewered. Not giving legal advice. Common sense suggests he back out. Being buddies with Obama and Sheila Jackson “Purple and Gold” Lee tells me he’s fine, as is the “Non-Profit.” Bottom line: WRONG!
Pot —> Kettle!
ReplyDeleteIts interesting the great lengths Candice will attack someone else for doing good work. The longer story is that Sheriff Garcia began Organ Donation Outreach as part of the Sheriff's office community outreach when he was first elected Sheriff. This is not something that is new or sudden, he had been involved with it for a while now.
Although, one could argue that there is a smack of Electioneering in being appointed to the board, the press release, etc., however, the non-profit did not endorse him, run campaign adds, or post blog posts deriding his opponents. In fact, in order for it to be truly electioneering, the non-profit would have needed to make some political statement of support for the sheriff or a statement against his opponents.
Ironically, I can only think of one Houston non-profit who has been engaging in politics this election year, and that would be Attorney's for Special Needs Children at the "direction" of its Founder and Chairperson Candice Schwager. Despite the fact, Atty4Kids articles of incorporation bar it from any politics, she has repeatedly used her non-profit as a political soap box to further the campaign of Louis Guthrie. On many occasions she has presented herself as Louis Guthrie's campaign coordinator, including tweets, blog posts, online resume's and in online interviews. In her non-profit posts she has even boasted the Louis Guthrie is Atty4Kids biggest single supporter?
She has mixed campaigning for Louis Guthrie on her non-profits web site, blogs, and in various forum posts. Just as this blog post points out, she is quick to remind people that Atty4Kids did not become a 501c3, however, a quick read of her various non-profit blog posts and the articles of incorporation it is noted that she presented that non-profit as being or going to be a 501c3 and that it would be ran as such.
The richest part of this post was the comment about not tolerating electioneering from her own organization—I still chuckle when I read that.