Press Release (Text) that Was Sent Out by Carroll G. Robinson, Chairman of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats on Wednesday,
April 8, 2020
(PRESS RELEASE)
The Texas Coalition of Black Democrats today joined eighteen elected state Democratic officials from Harris County and the Houston Branch of the N.A.A.C.P. in requesting that Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg and County Attorney Vince Ryan investigate the presence of a phantom candidate in the March 3rd Democratic Primary for House District 142, including empaneling a grand jury to do so, if needed.
"Our community has come too far at too great a cost to allow the voters in House District 142 to be defrauded by what may have been an organized effort to put a name on the ballot for a person who does not exist," said Carroll G. Robinson, current State Chairman of the Coalition and a former at-large member of the Houston City Council. "More than 2500 voters were duped into voting for a non-existent mystery 'candidate' by the actions of one or more people who got a name put on the ballot by violating numerous laws."
Letters urging Ms. Ogg and Mr. Ryan were signed by eighteen Harris County Democrats elected to the Texas Legislature, by N.A.A.C.P. Houston Branch President James Douglas, by Robinson on behalf of the Coalition and by the following Houston area ministers: Houston Metropolitan Ministers, Pastor James Nash, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Pastor Robert Tigner, Golden Gate Missionary Baptist Church and Pastor George Hill, Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church.
"Based on our preliminary report of the facts, to which the authorities have access, it is clear that election fraud occurred. We need the District Attorney to promptly investigate this case and prosecute those who did this to the full extent of the law," Robinson continued. "With all the talk about Russia meddling in our elections, it would be an outrage and a travesty to let some homegrown dirty tricksters get away with these crimes."
Houston's ABC Channel 13 reported following the primary that no one ever saw a candidate named Natasha Ruiz attend campaign events, none of the required ethics reports were filed for anyone with that name and the person never sent any campaign mailers. A woman reached by reporter Miya Shay at the phone number listed on an election-related form said she had not filed to run for the office and did not know who or why anyone would have done so. That woman is not named Ruiz and told Ms. Shay she's a truck driver living in Colorado. The purported campaign treasurer cannot be located, the phone number for him is not a working number and the email address given for the candidate does not work.
A runoff for House District 142 has been set for July 15th. Robinson said that he and the Harris County leaders want the District Attorney and County Attorney to get to the bottom of these matters before the runoff, if possible.
"We know there's a lot going on with the pandemic and the impact of falling prices on our oil and gas industry. Given these uncertainties, Harris County voters must be assured that fair elections, free of corruption, are a top priority. The legislative session is coming soon and our community must be assured that the candidates of their choice represent them in Austin," Robinson said.
