Councilman: Frank Carter’s Large, Out-of-Town Donors Raise Concerns

Why has a Plano Ford dealership’s partner and general manager made a large campaign donation in San Angelo’s local police chief election, and why did an Odessa construction company donate $30,000 to Frank Carter’s campaign, too?

These are just two questions on the mind of SMD 3 City Councilman Harry Thomas when he used his remaining campaign cash to purchase an ad in the local paper endorsing Carter’s opponent, Chief of Police Tim Vasquez.

A Plano car dealer named Chaz Gilmore donated $3,500 to Carter, according to Carter’s Apr. 7 campaign finance reports. He is affiliated with DFW-area Grapevine Ford Lincoln, according to his profile on LinkedIn.com.

Thomas asked Monday morning, “There are a number of things about Chief Tim Vasquez’s opponent that are very much in question. If you get money from a Ford dealership in Plano, or you get $30,000 from a construction company in Odessa, I have to ask what’s their interest in a little ‘ol San Angelo municipal election?”

Carter was asked about the three donors from Odessa’s Saulsbury family, each contributed $10,000 to his campaign, in the City of San Angelo debate. He claimed they were personal friends from Odessa. “They own four homes valued at over $500,000 apiece, so they pay their taxes,” he said.

The Saulsbury family does own four homes in San Angelo. Three are at Lake Nasworthy and the fourth is in Bentwood. None are valued at over $500,000, according to the Tom Green County Appraisal District. They are valued at $496k, $405k, $358k, and $290k respectively.

“They employ people (in San Angelo) who take care of their lawns, they have local employees who build swimming pools and renovations and everything of [those] needs. They’re great friends of mine,” Carter said at the debate on Apr. 14.

The Saulsbury family operates a large industrial construction firm in Odessa named Saulsbury Industries. Carter’s donors sit on the board of directors there.  

Thomas is also concerned about the car dealer from Plano. Where the San Angelo Police Department purchases vehicles is always a contentious subject in front of city council.

Thomas said he would urge city staff to disqualify bids for police projects or police vehicles, if made, from either the Odessa construction company or the Plano Ford dealer if Carter were to win the election. He stressed this is particularly important if the city sends out a request for proposals for constructing the new police station.

“A Ford dealership in Plano may be a good place to buy a Ford. But I’d rather spend my money locally,” Thomas said.

Frank Carter would not respond to our request to clarify his $3,500 donation from the Plano Ford dealership’s partner and GM.

“As for transparency? The chief should be above reproach,” Thomas said.

Thomas said his ad was purchased to make a loud statement, in part because Frank Carter’s campaign finance reports haven’t been questioned in the media.

In addition to the campaign donors, Thomas is skeptical of the public service labor union, Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas (CLEAT), releasing a survey during the middle of the campaign for police chief. He recalled his experience as a corporate executive and Goodyear and how his corporation performed management surveys.

“We did a survey every 18 months to two years to see what areas we could improve on,” he said.

His experience in corporate management surveys informs Thomas to be suspicious of the CLEAT survey methodology. “You can pose those questions to get slanted answers on anything you want,” he said. “It appears to me like, by looking at that particular survey, that’s what was done.”

“It’s kind of funny when I take a look and there are two other cities out there that CLEAT has surveys on (their respective police departments), and the results are almost identical to the survey that was done here just prior to the election in May,” he said. Thomas listed Del Rio and Austin where CLEAT claimed officer morale was low.

Thomas asked, “Who puts these surveys together?”

Thomas questioned whether CLEAT’s endorsement of Frank Carter had something to do with how the survey was constructed. “Frank Carter got involved with CLEAT a few weeks before that survey comes out, and that survey is very, very slanted,” Thomas said.

Thomas believes the survey was a big factor in Vasquez losing the four-candidate election May 7 by two percentage points to Carter. Both candidates face each other in a runoff election July 2 since neither candidate won by 50% plus one vote. Early voting is ongoing now.

“When you run a survey like that two weeks before the election, and you publish the results without even visiting with the leadership of the San Angelo Police Department, or the city, we know it probably influenced a number of citizens because they only saw one side. They didn’t hear the other side when it comes to running an efficient police department,” he said.

Thomas expressed concerns that the Chief of Police will not represent the best interest of the City of San Angelo if Carter is elected. He will be in debt to the union for his victory, Thomas said.

On the positive side, Thomas reflected on the last 12 years of Chief Vasquez’s term in office. “I think we’ve got a police chief who is focused on the community, focused on his officers, and is doing what is best for the city,” he said.

Thomas also endorsed Elizabeth Grindstaff, the SMD 5 city councilwoman, who is facing challenger Lane Carter in the same runoff election. Thomas believes Councilwoman Elizabeth has been open and transparent with her constituents and communicates well for them.

“Her town hall meetings really bring something to the table. Citizens are able to sit down face-to-face and discuss issues,” he said. He said the forums she hosts allow her to get input from her constituents and she takes their concerns to city staff. Many issues the council has considered during her tenure are a result of her ability to build consensus, particularly through her “Neighborhood Chats,” he said.

“That’s the way she was able to get the council to consider the changes on the trash contract,” Thomas said.

Thomas was disappointed Grindstaff had three opponents to begin with, and is now facing a runoff, despite her abilities to frame issues in non-confrontational and non-combative ways. “I think Mr. David Nowlin went around and beat the bushes against her,” Thomas said.

Thomas noted that Nowlin, the former mayoral candidate who lost to Mayor Dwain Morrison in the May 2015 election, has an agenda. Nowlin wants to stack the council and police chief positions with people who will be compliant with his mayoral ambitions, Thomas said. Nowlin has endorsed both Carters opposing Thomas’ endorsed candidates.

Endorsing two candidates in a contentious, and sometimes toxic, election is risky. Nowlin posted a snapshot of Thomas’ newspaper ad on Facebook and claimed Thomas is going broke and should have saved his money. The post was later removed.

Thomas isn’t stepping away, though.

'“I’m not noted as someone who plays it safe. I am noted for taking a look at what I think is good for the community,” Thomas said.