News Release: Kemah Official Found Guilty Of Misusing Taxpayer Funds
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Matt Wiggins has been found guilty of violating state election laws. The Texas Ethics Commission sanctioned the Kemah city official this week for the misuse of tax money and fined him $1,000.
Dolcefino Consulting has filed multiple criminal and ethics complaints against the former Mayor in Kemah, Texas who now controls the cost of water and fire protection for the area as the president of the Water Control and Improvement District No. 12.
In a hearing before the Texas Ethics Commission, Wiggins argued that Dolcefino Consulting had assassinated his character by filing complaints and broadcasting investigative reports about his actions.
“I’m proud to be added to Mr. Wiggins’ paranoid list of people trying to assassinate his character,” said Wayne Dolcefino, President of Dolcefino Consulting. “I would point out that if he wasn’t known for the character he has, we wouldn’t need to do so many investigative reports about him.”
Wiggins was accused of misusing taxpayer funds by ordering the mass mailing of attack letters against political opponents in the monthly water bills sent to more than 2,000 customers. It costs about $2,000 every month to send out the water bills.
“Wiggins knowingly and intentionally misused the funds and resources allocated to provide bills to WCID#12 residents and used them to include these letters in official governmental mailings that were paid for by the taxpayers,” the criminal complaint reads.
The Ethics Commission is not Wiggins’ only problem. He was jailed last year and charged by the Galveston County DA with a felony for Abuse of Official Capacity. The Public Integrity Unit and the Texas Rangers brought his misdeeds to a grand jury, and he was indicted.
The Wiggins letters included bizarre attacks against political nemesis and current Mayor Carl Joiner, as well as a detailed denouncement of a resident who criticized sudden price increases. Wiggins stated in his hearing that the wording of the letters was approved by board attorney Chris Richardson, but not by the rest of the board. They both should be removed immediately.
We have been exposing Wiggins’ questionable management and possible violations of Texas ethics laws for years. During our investigation, the officials in Kemah have not stepped up to stop him. Instead, they have covered for him and rewarded him with even more power and influence.
“Mr. Wiggins continues to use his positions of power to carry out personal vendettas against residents of Kemah and anyone else who tries to warn the public,” Wayne Dolcefino said. “While this sanction is proof of a public official’s wrongdoing, it is not a strong enough enforcement against someone who is known for skirting the rules.”
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