March 2, 2005, 1:00AM
DeLay mailing featured as evidence in fund case
Postcards sent to Fort Bend voters are example of how group hid funding, plaintiffs say
By R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
AUSTIN - The Young Conservatives of Texas featured U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay in a mailing to Fort Bend County voters meant to influence the 2002 Republican primary runoff, but the mailer actually was paid for by a political committee created by DeLay.
Lawyers suing Texans for a Republican Majority seized on the mailing in state district court Tuesday as an example of how TRMPAC tried to hide its fund-raising and spending in the 2002 legislative elections.
Among other claims, five losing Democratic candidates contend TRMPAC violated state election laws by not fully disclosing to the Texas Ethics Commission corporate money it raised and spent in the elections to help defeat them.
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Evidence of the DeLay mailing came out during testimony by Austin printer Bob Thomas, whose Thomas Graphics does printing and mailing for Republican candidates.Thomas said he produced a postcard for the Young Conservatives of Texas to be sent out in the House District 28 Republican runoff in DeLay's home territory of Fort Bend County. He said the postcard featured DeLay.
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