Finance report revised by County Commissioner Manny Ramirez due to allegations of illicit contribution
In Texas, it is illegal for a company CEO or any business to donate directly to a political candidate from a business account, according to state campaign finance laws. This rule was highlighted in a recent case involving Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez and Centurion American Development Group.
Initially, Centurion American, which is developing 836 acres along Bonds Ranch Road, was reported to have made a potentially illegal $25,000 donation to Commissioner Ramirez's campaign. However, it was later revealed that the initial filing contained a mistake made by Tarrant County elections officials, as donor names were redacted.
The corrected campaign finance report, filed on July 15 and covering donations and spending from January 1 to June 30, attributes the contribution to Centurion American's CEO, Mehrdad Moayedi, personally. This correction underscores the importance of individual donations in Texas politics.
Moayedi, a regular major political donor, has contributed hundreds of thousands to local, state, and national Republicans. In 2023, he donated $25,000 to Commissioner Ramirez and $10,000 to County Judge Tim O'Hare.
Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, emphasized that donations must be from individuals' personal funds, not those of businesses, even if the business owner views the funds as interchangeable. This rule helps keep companies and labor unions from becoming outsized players in politics, maintaining a level playing field for all candidates.
The Texas Ethics Commission acts more as a clerk to create transparency than an enforcer of laws. This means that while it is the commission's responsibility to ensure campaign finance reports are accurate, it does not have the power to enforce penalties for violations.
In spring 2024, county commissioners approved creating a $200 million public improvement district covering the area where Centurion American is developing, which is expected to develop about 1,100 houses. The area falls in Ramirez's district just north of Fort Worth city limits.
Notably, Moayedi donated a renovated historic sanctuary to Mercy Culture Church, a church with a large Fort Worth presence and a reputation for its political efforts. When a CEO or CFO has to personally make a donation, it makes the contribution more transparent for the public and more complicated for the corporation.
In Texas, there is no limit on how much money an individual can contribute to a politician, unless the recipient is a judge or judicial candidate. This means that while donors like Moayedi can contribute significant amounts, they must do so from their personal funds, not business accounts, to comply with state laws.
[1] Texas Ethics Commission regulations: https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/policy/campaign/index.htm [2] Texas Ethics Commission prohibition on corporate donations: https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/policy/campaign/corporate/index.htm
- Despite a potential initial mistake made by Tarrant County elections officials, the corrected campaign finance report from July 15 revealed that the $25,000 donation to Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez's campaign came from Centurion American Development Group's CEO, Mehrdad Moayedi, personally, highlighting the importance of individual donations in Texas politics.
- According to state campaign finance laws in Texas, companies like Centurion American are not allowed to donate directly to political candidates from business accounts, but the Texas Ethics Commission acts more as a clerk to create transparency than an enforcer of laws, meaning it does not have the power to enforce penalties for violations.
- Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, emphasized that donations must be from individuals' personal funds, not those of businesses, even if the business owner views the funds as interchangeable. This rule is designed to keep companies and labor unions from becoming outsized players in politics, maintaining a level playing field for all candidates.
- In Texas, there is no limit on how much money an individual can contribute to a politician, unless the recipient is a judge or judicial candidate. However, these contributions must be made from personal funds, not business accounts, to comply with state laws.
- Personal contributions from business leaders like Moayedi, who frequently donates to local, state, and national Republicans, not only play a significant role in Texas politics but also make the contributions more transparent for the public and more complicated for the corporation.
