Judge Yarbrough’s service on insurance company’s board appears to be illegal

examiner.com ^

[Todd Kinsey]

Further research into Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough’s service on American National Insurance’s board of directors has revealed that his entire nine-year tenure has been illegal. Judge Yarbrough’s service violates not only the county’s ethics policy but more importantly Section 81.002 of the Texas Local Government Code which prohibits county judges and commissioners from serving as an officer or as part of the governing body of a publicly traded corporation.

According to Greta Bassett with American National Insurance Company’s investor relations department, ANICO has been a publicly traded company since 1972 not 2009 as first reported by Fox’s Randy Wallace and T.J. Aulds of the Galveston Daily News.

This raises serious questions regarding the tax breaks that American National received from Galveston County for the construction of their two buildings in League City, Texas. Although Judge Yarbrough recused himself from voting, this to, is in violation of state law. According to Attorney General Opinion JC-0061 the judge “cannot avoid a conflict of interest under section 81.002 by recusing himself.” This opinion was recently reaffirmed in 2008 by Attorney General Abbott in Opinion GA-0645. Which begs to question, what influence did he wield over the other county commissioners in the weeks and months prior to the vote authorizing these tax breaks?

[Todd Kinsey]

Should County Judge Jim Yarbrough resign? I say yes.