KTRK's Dolcefino continues investigation of county government (02/26/2008)
Last night, KTRK-13's Wayne Dolcefino continued his look at some of the relationships between Harris County government and private industry. Here's a teaser:
Friends helping friends get huge government contracts.
Is that the way you want business done with your money?
Deep in the country northwest of Houston, you'll come upon the huge Hat Creek Ranch. It's a nice place.
You know who owns the Hat Creek Ranch? It's owned by Leroy Hermes.
Leroy Hermes is a noted architect. He's a community leader and founder of a firm with a long history of lucrative government contracts.
"Where does giving to the community cross the line to benefiting yourself ethically or unethically, that's what needs to be looked at," said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett.
This pillar of the community finds himself part of an FBI investigation of public corruption. A federal conspiracy indictment charged developer Michael Surface with multiple crimes and claimed Surface got Hermes' firm to hire a particular consultant to help Surface get a city contract. Hermes' firm would then get to be the architect. Mr. Hermes was not charged with a crime.
Hermes says he hasn't read the now month old indictment. In a letter to 13 Undercover, he says he objects to any suggestion he is "dishonest, deceitful or otherwise corrupt."
But Mr. Hermes is one example why Harris County government and its contractors seem to make up such a small world. And that's why 13 Undercover has looked at the contracts for the Reliant Stadium complex.
The entire story is here.
PREVIOUSLY: KTRK's Dolcefino continues investigation of county government (02/25/2008).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/27/08 09:52 AM | Print |
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