Texas Ethics Commission

[9] The heftiest of these was a $77,200 fine levied against Ron Reynolds, then a member of the Texas Legislature, for failing to file mandatory campaign finance reports during a two year period.

[12] Reform attempts notwithstanding, the TEC faces criticisms for perceived lenient disclosure rules, affiliations with lobbyists, and doubts regarding the competency of its members.

[14] Amid the Commission's controversial actions, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has demonstrated reluctance in legally prosecuting individuals with notable unpaid fines stemming from campaign reporting violations.

[17] Additionally, the Commission has faced allegations of giving misleading financial statements and unfairly penalizing individuals for slight administrative oversights.

[21] Many advocates for campaign finance reform view the TEC as an emblematic entity, influenced by influential parties and faltering in its commitment to foster ethical governance.

The affected individual later expressed that they felt denied the opportunity to present their case, describing the situation as feeling more like a scripted play than a genuine hearing.

A prominent example includes the decision of the TEC to fine the Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) $1,900 due to a self-disclosed reporting oversight.

In stark contrast, during the same timeframe, the Commission drastically reduced a fine for a Democratic State Representative who had overlooked a filing deadline for a significant duration, cutting down a $10,000 penalty to a paltry $1,000.

Although the candidate quickly corrected these issues and updated their filings, the TEC maintained the fine, sparking concerns about the transparency and fairness in their decision-making, possibly indicating a trend of inconsistent rulings.

[29] The TEC's inconsistency is also seen in a case involving a former Mayor of Brownsville, who received a $100 fine for failing to properly file a campaign treasurer appointment while accepting contributions and incurring expenses.

The TEC's aggressive approach, involving multiple warning letters and threats of additional penalties, raises concerns about the fairness and proportionality in their rulings.

[32] A local political consultant from Flower Mound faced a total of $37,500 in fines for a series of alleged violations, distributed across three different instances of misconduct.

Critics claim these steep fines highlight the TEC's tendency towards harsh punitive measures, questioning the fairness and real intentions behind their enforcement actions.