Something Smells in Kirk Texas Race: Hicks. [But first let's have a little fun]

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Sunday, June 7, 1998

Ties to Hicks helped Kirks boost fortunes $500,000
DALLAS (AP) -- Mayor Ron Kirk's family is benefiting financially from a company owned by radio and sports mogul Tom Hicks, whom Kirk supported in his plans to build an arena near downtown Dallas.

The value of stock options in Chancellor Broadcasting Co. granted to Kirk's wife, Matrice Ellis-Kirk, have increased in value by more than $500,000 in the last two years, The Dallas Morning News reported in Saturday's editions.

Ms. Ellis-Kirk received the stock options for serving one year on Chancellor's board of directors. Hicks interviewed her for his company board in July 1995, one month after her husband was elected mayor, and formally invited her aboard the following month. She accepted.

Kirk and Dallas city manager John Ware negotiated the city's $230 million arena deal with Hicks, who owns the Dallas Stars, and Ross Perot Jr., who owns the Dallas Mavericks basketball club.

Taxpayers will pay $125 million under that deal, which was narrowly approved by voters in January. Kirk led that campaign.

On Friday, Ware announced he will leave his city post to head a new investment company backed by Hicks.

Critics immediately questioned whether Kirk and Ware were influenced in their negotiations with Hicks.

"The issue is, is Tom Hicks buying Dallas?" state Rep. Domingo Garcia, D-Dallas, told the Morning News. "It just appears that this guy is buying influence at City Hall and using that influence to dip into taxpayers' dollars and get his pet projects built."

Garcia, a former council member, lost the mayor's race to Kirk in 1995.

Suzie Woodford, executive director of Common Cause of Texas, said the relationships Hicks created with Kirk and Ware raise concerns.

"It may not be against the law, and it may not be against the code of ethics. But it certainly is a huge appearance of impropriety," Woodford said. "It certainly does not pass the smell test."

Kirk, Ware and Hicks all denied any impropriety. The city officials' arrangements with Hicks were cleared by the city attorney.

"There's no prohibition against us investing in stocks or making a living," Kirk said recently, according to the Morning News. "I strenuously object" to any implications "that my wife is unethical or corrupt."
In a recent interview, Ms. Ellis-Kirk told the newspaper, "I didn't get any favorable treatment. I can guarantee you I'm not a millionaire."

Hicks said he put Ms. Ellis-Kirk on his media company's board of directors because of her business talent and to bring racial diversity. He said Ms. Ellis-Kirk gave up her board seat after he bought the Dallas Stars because there could be "a perception of a conflict."

Upon her appointment, Ms. Ellis-Kirk was granted the right to buy 9,166 shares at a price equal to the initial public offering price -- $20 per share.

The $20 price was low enough to give Ms. Ellis-Kirk an immediate profit of about $40,000 when she paid $50,000 to buy 2,500 shares in mid-1996. The market price was about $36 per share, making 2,500 shares worth approximately $90,000.

At current prices and adjusting for a 2-for-1 split in January, the shares Ms. Ellis-Kirk owns are worth approximately $200,000 on a $50,000 investment. If she exercises all her options, she would have a net gain of approximately $530,000 on an outlay of $183,000.

"There was no legal conflict; there was not ethical conflict," Kirk said. His wife "resigned from the board, and we paid a hell of a financial price for that," the mayor said.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

http://www.dallasarena.com/v020822kirk.htm

AUSTIN -- A lucrative corporate board appointment for Ron Kirk's wife, which raised questions while Kirk was mayor of Dallas, is being resurrected as an issue in Kirk's race for the U.S. Senate.

Matrice Ellis Kirk served only 13 months on the board of Chancellor Broadcasting Co. and resigned in February 1997, after Tom Hicks, the Dallas businessman who appointed her to the board, became involved in negotiations with her husband and other city officials for a new sports arena.
But Matrice Kirk kept her stock options and cashed in more than $275,000 worth through a successor company last year, according to income tax information released by her husband's senatorial campaign last week. . . .

The Kirks have denied any impropriety in Matrice Kirk's part-time service on the board of Chancellor, which later became part of Clear Channel Communications Inc. And Justin Lonon, a spokesman for the Kirk campaign, said on Monday that she was well-qualified for the appointment. . . .

Hicks in 1999 told the Dallas Morning News that he gave Matrice Kirk the board seat because of her gender and race -- the Kirks are black -- and because her family was having "trouble adjusting without her income."

[Texas_Jarhead]

oh man that was good. massive kudos. I think part are its hilarity comes from my own impressions of tthe characters.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Emphasis on last post:

Hicks in 1999 told the Dallas Morning News that he gave Matrice Kirk the board seat because of her gender and race -- the Kirks are black -- and because her family was having "trouble adjusting without her income."

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

http://www.dallasarena.com/v020822kirk.htm

This link takes you to a well-documented site on the Kirk-Hicks connection. It even shows scanned news articles.

TY for the kind words. It was actually fun to write. I miss the old Star Trek.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

"It doesn't past the smell test." [Hicks Connection with Kirk]

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

http://www.reporter-news.com/1998/texas/ethics0607.html

http://www.reporter-news.com/1998/texsports/hicks0622.html

http://www.mayorkirk.com/features/features0306.shtml

http://www.reporter-news.com/1998/texas/ethics0607.html

http://www.mayorkirk.com/features/features.shtml

[William McKinley]

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[Dog Gone]

Nice job!

[deport]

Thanks for the articles..... BUMP

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

My pleasure. No way on earth do I want this Kirk Turkey to be a senator. FReegards.....

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

TY. Let's take these rat ba$turd$ and cram their own droppings down their throats! How dare they honor the Chief Terrorist Pardoner! Is there a Guiness world record on American presidents pardoning terrorists?

[deport]

I'm hoping enough voters go to the polls that don't want him either.

Vote Republican Nov. 5, 2002
Go Cornyn Go

Take back the Senate - Retain the House

[ForGod'sSake]

Spock: I thought you said Vulcan mind melt!!

FGS

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

LOL!

[MeekOneGOP]

Something Smells in Kirk Texas Race: Hicks.
[But first let's have a little fun]

Humor break.....

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
No, you don't HAVE to be a Texan to get on this list!

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I didn't know you have a Texas list. Please add me to it. =] TY for taking a look at this. FReegards....

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Bump for later, after chores are done!

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Let's send Kirk back to orbit where he belongs! Warp Eight, Mr. Sulu. Destination, Worm Hole to the Twilight Zone.