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Featured Listener Comments Section: Contents List |
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Listener: Mikel Ward
Category: Lubbock City Politics
Date: 23 Apr 2008
Time: 11:42:53 -0700
Remote Name: 66.140.100.171
Even though the following two separate but somewhat related incidents occurred
ten years ago, they gave me some early insights into David Miller’s mind set.
Other people were involved in each decision, but I still question whether these
actions met high ethical standards. These were my first dealings with him and
made me more cautious about subsequent issues involving Mr. Miller.
On January 15, 1998, two days before the fifth sales tax election, the Chamber
of Commerce Board of Directors met. David Miller (the incoming chairman of the
Chamber) representing the Lubbock Citizens for Better Jobs PAC reported they
were spending $170,000 to promote the 3/8 cent tax increase but had not raised
near enough to pay their bills. The Chamber agreed to contribute $70,000 or more
from the Lubbock Industrial Foundation funds. I was told this fund had less than
$200,000 at the time and was meant to be seed money for a future industrial
park. They gave the PAC $50,000 on January 15 and $32,582.98 on June 30 to pay
off the remainder of their debt. Despite the very expensive campaign, voters
rejected the tax increase by 63%.
During the last days of the campaign, David Miller commented on the news that
the tax supported economic development funds would be available to local
businesses when they wanted to expand. Apparently he was right because that
spring Market Lubbock gave $200,000 to Miller’s Med Group to create 20 jobs with
a total annual payroll of $537,000 (less than $27,000 each). In a report to the
City Council June 25, 1998, the capital investment made by David Miller’s
business was only $152,000 ($48,000 less than the incentive amount). Nearly all
other recipients of tax funded Market Lubbock incentives have made capital
investments of several times over the tax dollars they received.
I recently discovered that Mr. Miller only created 9 new jobs at Med Group so he
was given only $90,000 in three annual $30,000 payments from 1999-2001. This
seems to be one more example of his dreaming beyond reality. It’s easier when
you can access other people’s money .
Taxpayers can draw their own conclusions about any relevant connections between
these past events and more current issues.
Mikel Ward
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