State Representative Garnet F. Coleman (D-Houston) announced that Speaker Tom Craddick's Assistant Parliamentarian Ron Wilson has yet to address the ethics complaints that were filed against him over the previous week. Rep. Coleman has yet to hear anything official from the Texas Ethics Commission or the Office of the Attorney General concerning possible ethics violations by Mr. Wilson.

 

"As we've tried to get information about Mr. Wilson's ethics, we are being stonewalled by the Texas Ethics Commission and the Office of the Attorney General," Rep. Coleman said. "To the best of our understanding, Mr. Wilson has yet to pay $3,800 to the Ethics Commission. After a week's time, we still have no official response from the agency."

 

In 2004, former State Representative Ron Wilson was fined $8,300 for ethics violations. Upon the matter being taken up with the Collections division of the Office of the Attorney General, Ron Wilson paid $4,500 of his fine. Rep. Coleman has filed an open records request to determine why the remaining $3,800 of the fine was not paid.

 

"Unfortunately, it's difficult to learn the truth about someone who has shown a consistent pattern of unethical behavior," Rep. Coleman said.

 

There is also the matter of Mr. Wilson's final closing of his campaign account.  His 2005 January Semiannual report – filed 15 days late – contains a sworn statement saying "I do not have unexpended contributions".  However, his 2005 July semiannual report contains a $1,647.20 difference between his expenditures and contributions. Mr. Wilson never reported how this outstanding balance in his campaign account was spent.

 

Rep Coleman will continue to look into the matter concerning Mr. Wilson's ethics complaints and will follow up next week upon hearing from the Texas Ethics Commission and the Office of the Attorney General.