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Lubbock Councilwoman Phyllis Jones fails to disclose conflict of interest in Depot District visitor center vote

Listener: Pratt on Texas
Category: Lubbock City Politics
Date: 17 Apr 2008
Time: 13:28:59 -0700
Remote Name: 66.140.100.171

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Lubbock Councilwoman Phyllis Jones fails to disclose conflict of interest in Depot District visitor center vote
© 04-17-2008 Pratt on Texas www.prattontexas.com

Mixed Beverage, Beverage Cartage, Caterers, and Mixed Beverage Late Hours permits were issued to Cactus Courtyard by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission on 29 January 2008. According to records obtained from the TABC by Pratt on Texas through a Public Information Request, Lubbock city councilwoman Phyllis Jones is listed as Secretary of the corporation controlling this license and Cactus Courtyard.

After those permits were issued by the TABC, councilwoman Jones cast a vote in her role as district 4 city representative, which directly affect the property value and customer traffic of her business interest, Cactus Courtyard.

Specifically, on Thursday, 27 March 2008, councilwoman Jones voted to approve money and award an engineering contract for a visitor center to be placed adjacent to the property in which she has a controlling interest.

Pratt on Texas can find no record of Ms. Jones either disclosing to the council, or public, her conflict of interest in the vote for the visitor center. Nor, can we find any record of her recusing herself from the vote on 27 March or any other votes related to this matter. The Avalanche-Journal reports that only councilman Klein voted against for funding the center.

See documents from the TABC which show Phyllis Jones’ business interest in the Cactus Courtyard and alcoholic beverage permits here (pdf).