The Woodlands, Texas (Montgomery County Monitor) – On March 10, 2008 Texas State Representative Rob Eissler signed an Order and Agreed Resolution in which he agreed to pay a $10,600 civil fine and to reimburse his campaign fund $18,106.53.
This agreement stems from four complaints the Texas Ethics Commission received, the earliest in November 2006, concerning alleged misuse of political contributions by Eissler.One of the original complaints (see below) lists many suspect transfers of campaign funds to Linda Eissler, his wife, as well as transfers of campaign funds to Eissler and Associates, Eissler’s executive recruiting business.
The resolution was published on the Texas Ethics Commission’s web-site near the end of October 2008.
When questioned about the more than seven month gap between the finalized agreement and its on-line publication, Natalia Ashley, Texas Ethics Commission’s General Counsel said, “The Commission met, considered the complaint, and proposed a resolution to the complaint…”
Ashley mentioned the number of allegations as well as their complex nature as a factor in the extended time-line. She also claims the Texas Ethics Commission has verified Eissler’s reimbursement of the $18,106.53 to his campaign fund.
Eissler’s July 15, 2008 campaign finance report, the latest report publicly available, showed no evidence of reimbursement of the $18,106.53. However, the report does show the campaign paid the $10,600 civil penalty to the Texas Ethics Commission on March 7, 2008.
Yes, that is correct, Eissler is ordered to pay a civil penalty for mismanagement of his campaign funds and he pays that fine with campaign cash.
After all this, one might wonder who Eissler’s campaign treasurer is and what if any comment he may have concerning this issue.
Eissler’s campaign treasurer is Bruce Tough, a well-known political figure in The Woodlands, Texas. Illustrative of Mr. Tough’s community involvement, he currently sits on leadership boards of the following organizations: Woodlands Community Association, Community Associations of The Woodlands, The Woodlands Fire Department, The Woodlands Township and others.
In addition to his role as Eissler’s campaign treasurer, Mr. Tough is also a lawyer.
“Mr. Tough, would you care to comment on Representative Eissler’s recent fine from the TEC [Texas Ethics Commission] for over $10,000?” we asked.
“I am not aware of anything, I haven’t heard anything about that,” Tough answered.
“You’re his campaign treasurer, aren’t you?” we asked.
“Yes,” he replied.
“You’re not aware that he [Eissler] had to pay back over $18,000 to his campaign fund?” we asked.
“Thats news to me,” Tough responded.
A few minutes later during the same interview.
“You’re his [Eissler] campaign treasurer and you were not aware of any of that activity?” we asked.
“I’ll tell you what I know. Representative Eissler had an issue concerning campaign expenditures which he has resolved with the Texas Ethics Commission, I know its been resolved, and its finished and thats all I can say on that and I am aware of that,” Tough replied.
“As his campaign treasurer, you were not involved in any way with providing documents for his defense?” we asked.
“I am aware of the complaint, I am aware of Representative Eissler addressing that complaint and resolving it to the satisfaction of the Texas Ethics Commission, I am aware of all of that,” Tough responded.
A little known fact, Mr. Tough has also been fined by the Texas Ethics Commission for campaign finance related issues.
On September 25, 2007, Tough signed his own Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with the Texas Ethics Commission. Tough was accused of campaign finance violations during his tenure as a Conroe Independent School District Trustee. By signing the Voluntary Compliance, Tough agreed to obey all campaign finance laws and also agreed to pay a $100 civil penalty.
“You received a TEC [Texas Ethics Commission] fine in the past, did you not?” we asked.
“I’m not commenting anything,” Tough said.
However, a few minutes later,
“Are you sure you don’t want to comment on your $100.00 fine that you agreed to pay the TEC?” we asked.
“Was that the one you filed or one of your friends filed, I can’t keep track,” Tough said.
“Maybe someone concerned about campaign finance laws filed it,” we said.
“Well…I think that 19 filings over a period of a couple of years is a little obsessive, but yes that has been resolved,” Tough responded.
“Nineteen filings, what do you mean?” we asked.
“I don’t want to comment any more.” Tough replied.
“So you are admitting you paid a fine?” we asked.
“I am not commenting,” Tough responded.
Related Information
Eissler’s Complaint and Resolution
Tough Complaint and Compliance
