An anonymous letter was received in the mailboxes of some Colleyville homes on Monday, May 4, 2015. Certainly a day that will live in Colleyville Politics Infamy.
There was no return address on the envelope, no signature, no one willing to take credit and certainly no disclosures as required by Texas Election Laws.
Undoubtedly the most scurrilous, vile, vicious and lewd undertaking by any group or individual in an attempt to sway the outcome of an election in modern memory.
The mailer contained excerpts from a deposition in small black print, but the author provided commentary and conclusions in bright red ink. Conclusions that were neither relevant nor accurate to the document.
The mailer contained in large red ink, “Colleyville Voter Alert Read Before Voting!”
Bad behavior
Bad Judgment
Bad for Colleyville!
LNO has elected not to post the mailer since litigation is pending against those deemed responsible for the act.
Candidate Bobby Lindamood was the target of the mailer. Lindamood released the following statement;
Colleyville Friends and Neighbors,
I ran for office to take on the Colleyville status quo and to be a proactive voice for citizens. Sadly, my opponent, Mike Taylor, and his insider friends are getting desperate as our campaign continues to grow in support; I really shouldn’t be surprised that desperate, dirty dealings and personal attacks would happen owing to our efforts against a career politician and because of Mike Taylor’s past style of campaigning. We were actually warned months ago that Mike would resort to any available dirty trick at the end of the campaign. As a multi-term incumbent with a troubling track record in office, Mike Taylor has proven this week, once again, that his priority and ideology is simply reelection.
Colleyville deserves better than the illegal and unethical actions of thugs and bullies both in office and during campaigns. My opponent and a his core supporters — Chuck and Jan Mogged, Jim Fletcher, Tom and Melissa Hart and Louis Miller — are now
trying to profit politically from the death of my father and family fallout in the aftermath. Sadly, after the death of a family member, personal estate matters and family infighting can occur. When my father passed away, it was a time of much emotion and stress, and there was family arbitration concerning the estate. Now, Mike’s accomplices are likely behind an unethical and illegal mailer containing false information malevolently taken out of context from a legally protected deposition — non-disclosable for the very reason that the dispute was resolved and contained completely false and erroneous assertions about events from two decades ago. Because of the editorialized falsehoods and lies being shared, I’ve retained Bruce L. James and Patrick H. Rose, IV of Whitaker Chalk and am in the process of filing a lawsuit to bring Mike Taylor and his conspirators to justice for such unethical and unlawful defamation. More importantly, we must bring Mike Taylor to justice at the ballot box on Election Day (Bransford Elementary) —this unethical tactic being just an example of a career politician’s behind-closed-doors dealings from over a decade in office.
The full story of a very personal, family matter regarding my deceased father is not being told. This is a selective and disgusting manipulation of a private, family dispute — that was resolved many years ago — in an attempt to defame and slander me and my family. As those who know me can attest, I’m a firm believer in character and integrity, and I strive each day to live my life with such. There are plenty of personal matters for which Mike Taylor could be held to account (our campaign chose to take the higher ground). Attacking someone personally is not the Colleyville way — we’re all imperfect individuals; instead, there are plenty of issues and policies to focus on when it comes to Mike Taylor’s record in office (please visit votebobby.org to learn more).
The lawless lengths that are being taken by a few to try to win an election and to distract citizens from kicking out an entrenched career politician are baffling. The level of hate and vulgarity being used by a few siding with my opponent is disturbing. Instead of us having a debate about city issues, Mike Taylor has chosen to hide behind a propped-up, puppet PAC (“Protect Colleyville”) —pending investigation by the Texas Ethics Commission for illegally not filing a treasurer or finance reports — and is now also relying on dirty, personal attacks regarding unfounded and untrue assertions made by a disgruntled family member decades ago.
My father will have been gone for 6 years this June, and the sting of his death and the ensuing family drama afterwards still hurts. It breaks my heart that individuals we call Colleyville neighbors would stoop so low and do such a cowardly thing in a desperate attempt to win an election and to defame me in such an illegal and unethical way — violating both Texas law and Texas ethics rules.
That’s not the Colleyville way.
But, as we’ve all fallen short of perfection, I will continue to walk in faith and in love and continue moving forward with my wife, my daughters, my friends, and my supporters. “Father, I pray for protection for my family, my friends, my town, yes, even my opponent and his supporters. May we treat each other with respect and with honesty. May we understand that we are neighbors now and even after this election. May we be examples of your love. Amen.
” I’ll see you at the polls on Saturday. Let’s win this! For Colleyville,
Bobby Lindamood
10 Comments
Melissa Hart
I am sicked by this. I got into this campaign to fight Proposition 1 and the candidates who sponsored it. I feel that the way the proposition is written is enough to defeat it. Character assassination only hurts both campaigns.
nelson
I believe we would have seen a more factual campaign had current seated council members stayed out of the fracas. With Mayor Kelly trying to strong arm citizens, Council members Tom Hart and Mike Taylor photographed attempting to place a “NO VOTE” sign in the neighborhood, Council Member Chuck Mogged actively putting out “NO VOTE” signs;, many times attached to Candidates Mike Taylor and Nancy Coplen’s signs, the milk began to turn sour early.
Council member Jody Short to somewhat less involvement, however offering the Star Telegram a prognosis of what would happen if Proposition 1 passed and finally Council member Carol Wollin that stepped back to allow the citizens and proponents debate the issues.
As it has turned out, the council members hiding behind an unregistered and therefore illegal PAC are similarly guilty of attempting to influence the election through equally, if not as nasty,surreptitious methods.
There is simply no doubt the mailer was sent out to benefit the Taylor and Coplen campaigns, therefore the bony finger is pointing directly at them.
Susan
Thank you for your coverage of the elections. I would be interested to see how many visits you have had to your website and the election articles. Please post if you can!
nelson
To: Susan Baum– Checking our stats over the past 5 days from April 30 – May 4 these are the numbers:
Total Number of Distinct Users: 4,457
Total Pages Read: :18,203
Most Popular Post: During this period the most read page with 42.86% of Distinct Users to date is this page.
Tanya Morris
This reminds me of the notorious YELLOW island that appeared overnight to block entrance to the Kroger and other buildings just to reroute traffic through the village to benefit the property management and builders.
There is a beautiful growing city just west of you——————-NORTH RICHLAND HILLS!!!!!
Gregg Rondeau
If it’s true,it’s beneath everyone in this race! But let’s not jump the gun here. As with everything else you are standing by it’s all conjecture and innuendo. Have the people who you are accusing used the letter to try and sway the election?
Let’s get a little historical perspective on this. The pro Prop 1 folks Putnam, Lindamood and Zeitlin have done a great job to playing the victim throughout this entire process.
This fracas really started a long time ago by Mr Putnam. He is the one that made the claim back in March 2014 that the city council was planning to use eminent domain extensively up and down Glade road. Putnam used this to propel the campaign forward by calling it a “land grab”. You excoriate other members of the city council for taking action against Prop 1 yet there has been numerous remarks and videos by Putnam on all of the sites and candidates pages for Prop1. So he certainly has not been idle in this.
Their campaign has run a well orchestrated plan to confuse voters, split the city, say anything to get elected and play the victim!
I believe it was in March 2014 that Putnam said to the city council in a Glade road work session that he had distributed a copy of the Proposition to each city council member. If the controversy he created was not to be used to launch the political careers of Lindamood and Zeitlin then why was it not turned in in time for the November election ? Because it would not have served their purpose.
I must give the PROS credit, they have taken an absolutely idiotic proposal, possibly written on purpose to completely confuse the electorate and convinced some voters of its legitimacy.
In my very first post to Mrs. Zeitlin in which she’s accused the city council of gamesmanship and lying I said that kind of rhetoric was not good for politics at any level. The Pro camp continued their nastiness calling anyone that disagreed with them liars, including myself.
You accuse the other side of absolutely everything and more that has been done by the Pro side. I don’t even have a dog in this race, unlike the candidates, all I want is the ditches filled in before somebody gets really hurt. I want a safe Glade Road for everyone !
nelson
Mr. Rondeau; thank you for your comments. We have addressed where the eminent domain comments originated, City Hall and Public Works.
The facts are a 10ft trail will require property not in the right of way. Now one council member is saying, well some of the North side will not be 10ft by 5ft.
If this is a fact, it was disclosed previously. And further makes no sense to have different size of Trail or sidewalk.
The proposal was written by citizens not attorneys. My conjecture however even if an attorney would have written the proposition there would still be claims the wording did not provide adequate clarity.
As I understand it, the leaders of the proposition felt that, with this document in hand, Mayor Kelly would have met and provided a fair opportunity of compromise with the stakeholders. That did not happen.
I have no problem with no bar ditches, I do have a problem with the at least 3 council members and one candidate hiding behind an illegal PAC.
Finally, I have not accused the “other side” of absolutely everything, for example I haven’t accused them of being forthright and transparent in this election.
Brandi
Here you are again Gregg, getting used to seeing your name attacking Mr. Lindamood and Mrs. Zeitlin. You were one of the most frequent agitators on the Protect Colleyville site that worked so hard to make these two look bad. “If it’s true”, hope you can find it in your heart to apologize to them for your part in it. You and I both know your actions were very blatantly malicious sir!
Susan
Glad to see the word is getting around! Those are great stats!
Patricia Henderson
I am a practicing attorney. The deposition in question could not have been sealed by the court, a settlement was reached. If there is no trial, then no deposition was offered into evidence for a Judge to seal. Depositions are given to all of the attorneys and parties in the lawsuit.
A deposition is sworn to under oath.