Mayor's Conflict of Interest

Source: City of Richardson.

Two documents have been filed with the City of Richardson that demand further explanation.

1. Local Government Officer Conflicts Disclosure Statement by Mayor Laura Maczka
2. Conflict of Interest Questionnaire by Mark Jordan of JP Realty Partners

In the first, filed March 19, 2015, Mayor Maczka discloses a business relationship with JP Realty Partners involving "leasing, marketing & communications." In the second, also filed March 19, 2015, Mark Jordan discloses that Mayor Maczka is "receiving or likely to receive taxable income" from JP Realty Partners.

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OK, what makes this especially interesting is that JP Realty Parners is the developer behind Palisades, the planned multi-use development between US 75 and Collins Blvd, near the Canyon Creek neighborhood. That's the controversial addition of about a thousand apartments near one of the most politically influential neighborhoods in Richardson. Laura Maczka ran for mayor on a campaign platform that stated "we do not need more apartments near our neighborhoods," only to flip-flop and become one of the biggest champions of Palisades on the city council, which approved the rezoning request making it possible. (Full disclosure: I supported the rezoning.)

Now, a little over a year later, Mayor Maczka files a conflict disclosure statement revealing a business relationship with the developer. Like I said, this relationship demands further explanation from Mayor Maczka. Given that she is running for re-election on May 9, that explanation needs to come sooner rather than later.

(h/t Jack Hardeman)

P.S. I'm ba-ack.