Meyers Calls for Official Investigation

Vo wrote letter on State Letterhead to Benefit Personal Business

HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 2, 2008) - Greg Meyers, the Republican candidate for House District 149, filed formal complaints with the Travis County Attorney’s office and the Harris County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit charging Rep. Hubert Vo with abuse of his public office.

The complaints refer to Vo's use of official state letterhead to attempt to gain favorable police treatment over an ongoing matter related to apartment complexes owned by Vo. The Democratic legislator also wrote Houston Police Department administrators to accuse officers of harassment and complain about scrutiny.

Meyers said, "It's an abuse of office for elected officials to use state resources to benefit their personal business. Vo had no business using his state letterhead, listing his membership on the House Law Enforcement Committee, to harass police officers attempting to do their job. In addition to incredibly poor judgment and a lack of integrity, it may be a violation of the law. A formal investigation is necessary to determine the facts."

The apartment complexes owned by Rep. Vo had been fined and were the subject of an investigation by the City of Houston's Neighborhood Protection Corps for dangerous and unhealthy living conditions. In addition, a special report by the Houston Chronicle also revealed numerous building code violations including faulty and exposed electrical wiring, rotted wood on balconies, stagnant water in swimming pools, mold-invested and damaged dry-wall, broken windows and unsecured vacant units.

In addition, lawsuits on file at the Harris County Courthouse directly contradict Rep. Vo's previous claims to not have known about conditions at his apartment complexes prior to being confronted by city inspectors and recent media scrutiny. The lawsuits cover a period from 1996 to 2007 and were all confidentially settled out of court by Rep. Vo.

"Here's a simple rule that all elected officials should follow: If what you’re about to do is not directly related to the function of your elected office, don't use any of the trappings of your office for it. That means no stationary, no email address, no phone, and so on. If it's your personal business, do it on your own time and on your own dime. You'll be amazed how much grief you can avoid this way."

- Excerpt from Charles Kuffner, Off the Kuff, April 13, 2008

- Vo letter on official State of Texas letterhead
- Complaint letter to Travis County Attorney David Escamilla
- Complaint letter to Harris County Assistant District Attorney Don Smyth

Vo used state letterhead in complaint to HPD

Police deny they harassed manager of apartments lawmaker owns

By MATT STILES

April 12, 2008

A month before complaints about problems at his apartments were disclosed publicly, state Rep. Hubert Vo used his government letterhead to complain to Houston police commanders about the department's scrutiny and accuse officers of harassment.

"What I am concerned with is the appearance that the NPC officers are using their authority to harass and issue tickets instead of working with the apartment managers to remedy any deficiencies," he wrote in the Feb. 25 letter to Assistant Chief Dorothy Edwards, who heads the Houston Police Department's Neighborhood Protection Corps.

"The word 'harass' is a very strong word and I use it very cautiously, but the conduct of the officers involved in this situation leads me to no other conclusion."

The three-page letter, which goes on to complain that the manager at the Villa De Matel apartments was not treated fairly and "taunted," was obtained from HPD by the Houston Chronicle late Friday under the Texas Public Information Act.

Vo's campaign manager, Karen Loper, said he was not available for comment.

A spokeswoman for the corps, which issues citations for blight such as illegal trash dumping, graffiti and nuisances on private property, but not structural problems handled by city code inspectors, denied any mistreatment.

"We are working with him like we would any other apartment complex," spokeswoman Jodi Silva said. "We will continue to do so in the future." The release of the letter was the latest in what has been a difficult two weeks for Vo, D-Houston, who owns at least four apartment complexes in Houston and Harris County.

He was cited for structural and engineering problems at one complex in the East End last week and was ordered Thursday to fix problems at another property along the North Freeway.

At the latter location, the Northpoint Apartments on Lyerly, the Chronicle documented numerous code violations, including exposed wiring, rotting wood and an algae-filled swimming pool.

Residents also complained of water leaks, rust, mold and mildew, as well as mice and cockroach infestation.

Vo said this week that he took full responsibility for the conditions and pledged to make the needed repairs.

He is campaigning for a third term in the Texas House against Republican Greg Meyers, a Houston Independent School District trustee.

In the letter, Vo took issue with a police sergeant and civilian inspector, saying they issued citations even after his manager worked to fill potholes in the parking lot.

He complained that the city workers did not address his concerns and questions about the complex's conditions, and he asked the assistant chief to "review" the citations.

"I bring this to your attention because as I'm sure you do, I expect all authority to be used as an agent for positive change without becoming a tool to use against those we serve," he wrote.

While it does not make any explicit threats or demands, the letter is on his state office stationery, which contains the state seal and a rendering of the Texas Capitol. It notes his position on the House Law Enforcement Committee last session.

Under his signature, Vo also indicated that he was sending a copy to Edwards' boss, Chief Harold Hurtt.

After reading the letter Friday, Meyers called for an outside investigation of Vo.

"Hubert Vo is obviously abusing his public office to benefit his personal business," he said. "This is a serious breach of leadership, ethics and integrity, and it needs to be fully investigated by outside parties to determine if any undue influence was sought by Representative Vo."