Allen Police Association withdraws its Paxton endorsement
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Im announcing my endorsement of Rep. Dan Branch for Attorney General. Senator
Paxtons recent admission that he broke the law when he failed to register with the State Securities Board
when he was actively soliciting investments on behalf of Fritz" Mowery is troubling. He also
failed to disclose his employment as an investment 
advisor to his legal clients a possible
violation of the State Bars rules for professional responsibility said the current Chairman of the Railroad Commission and former Republican candidate for Attorney General Barry Smitherman (left.)
Earlier this week in the latest in a series of blows to the Paxton Campaign the Allen Police Association which falls within Paxtons own Senatorial District
withdrew its Paxton endorsement citing recent revelations of securities and ethics law violations by the Senator including the Texas State Securities Boards disciplinary reprimand of Paxton last week.
I did not come to this endorsement lightly. My decision to run for Attorney General was based upon our familys belief that I brought skills experience and values that the other two candidates did not possess to the same degree said Smitherman.
As the current Chairman of the Railroad Commission former Chairman of the PUCT former prosecutor and investment professional and a licensed attorney for almost 30 years I believe that the next Attorney General must possess many attributes conservative values proven leadership skills a willingness to fight for Texas against this federal government and a passion to help local District Attorneys prosecute crime.
The Office of Attorney General is not a policy making position like the Legislature but a policy implementing job utilizing over 4000 employees and a half billion dollar budget to uphold the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas.
Dan Branch has been a practicing attorney for 30 years and is admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit and the United States Supreme Court the two courts of greatest relevance in Texas continuing battles against the Obama Administration. He and his wife Stacey are the
proud parents of five wonderful children.
Rep. Branchs leadership experience includes service as Chairman of the House Committee on Higher Education at the Southern Methodist University School of Law within his church and prior to entering the legislature within his own large law firm. He has represented House District 108 for 12 years.
While experience leadership and legal skills are important perhaps the most important of all qualities needed to be Attorney General the chief law enforcement officer in the State of Texas is an unwavering commitment to compliance with both the letter and the spirit of the law. The Attorney General must have integrity honesty and high moral character.
As a result of his admission of guilt Sen. Paxton was recently fined and reprimanded by the Securities Board for multiple violations of the Texas Securities Act.
Remaining open is the question of whether he committed any violations of United States securities laws which would be prosecuted by Eric Holders Dept. of Justice during the years (2008 to 2012) when Mowery Capital Management was under federal rather than state jurisdiction.
For these and other reasons I am supporting Dan Branch for Attorney General.
