Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Due to the ethical issues that have recently arisen concerning the past behavior of James Dickey (right) the current Republican Party of Texas (RPT) State Chair many have begun asking questions about his handling of the partys finances and the validity of his claims surrounding RPT fundraising.
The ethical issues previously addressed include the SEC complaint against Dickey for defrauding investors (James Dickeys SEC Problems) and Dickey misleading the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) members to win election (James Dickey Dismissal of Republican Party of Texas Officers).
Below are enumerated several more integrity concerns about Dickey.
Mis-Leading Statements regarding Available vs. Restricted Party Funds & Cash-On-Hand
At a recent Harris County Candidate Forum in Houston Dickey made claims of the RPT having $1.2 million on hand for ongoing operations (reported by Quorum Report). The numbers he gave at the Houston forum are a misrepresentation of the current situation a misrepresentation that Mr. Dickey has 
been called out on more than once.
But heres The Rub: Over $560000 of the $1.2 million belongs to TAXPAYERS to pay for the Primary Elections.
And another almost $162000 is restricted funds raised by others for other purposes leaving actual RPT funds somewhere around $550000 (not his reported $1.2 million) for RPT ongoing operations.
Then at a recent Bexar County Candidate Forum in San Antonio Dickey claimed to have raised more money that his predecessor. A review of FEC and TEC records shows this is also untrue since under his predecessors leadership the RPT raised $7.9 million while during Dickeys tenure it has raised $1.7 million.
In the area of using RPT resources for intra-party races the SREC Bylaws say:
Staff members shall remain neutral in intra-party contests for both public and Party offices."
After Dickey announced his campaign he hired one of the RPT contract staff members who now works simultaneously at the RPT and for his campaign. (He calls her a consultant.) Should Party Funds be used as a Personal Kitty? Many party regulars have become dismayed at Dickeys total lack of transparency and honesty especially in the area of the partys finances.
In the RPT Employee Handbook which has been modified under Dickeys tenure it includes this statement:
… every dollar the party has comes from donors. Donors who are trusting us to use their funds as wisely and effectively as possible. This is a trust we hold dear and must all consider carefully every time we spend any money."In reality Dickey used Grassroots Club donations for numerous personal meals something not done by either of the two previous State Chairmen including personal meals at La Madeleines Buc-cees and Bohanans a prime steak and seafood restaurant in San Antonio. He also claimed reimbursement for mileage to-and-from his personal residence to the RPT Headquarters. Neither of his two predecessors sought mileage reimbursement from their local residences to the headquarters while serving and in January Dickey even claimed mileage to a Dallas doctors office and called it outreach." The State Convention Delegates Must Decide As a result of these kinds of behaviors coming to light many RPT Members are now asking if his SEC problems in the past are truly a window into Dickeys substantial character issues that unfortunately appear to continue to this day. In their eyes they have gained a greater appreciation for the investors who were defrauded by Dickey and his partner over 14 years ago. He told them as he is now telling the Republican Partys faithful that there is much more money available than there really or actually is.
This time there wont be an SEC investigation into his conduct. The State Convention delegates will decide if he deserves to be elected.
Jean McIver is a lifelong Republican who has served the Republican Party of Texas for eight years as an SREC Member from Frisco Texas as well as many other additional party leadership roles.
