Texas Politics

May 15, 2004 12:05 AM

Before Enron Houston, Texas had been the locus of a stock scandal of a slightly different sort. Growing up in Houston in the 80s and 90s, I never associated the word "Sharpstown" with anything but a mall, but the area underwent a development mired in scandal.

In the late 1960s Frank W. Sharp, a Houston businessman, negotiated a deal with a few Texas House Democrats; they would help pass a piece of legislation, and in turn, he would ensure that they would make a profit from his company's stock. In 1971, the dealings came to light. Most of the public officials connected with the scandal were run out of office, but somehow one man beat the resulting karma, even it was a a few decades later. But some good did come out of this, as the Texas Open Records Act was expanded in the aftermath of the scandal.
posted by lychee (3 comments total)

Ah, but the Open Records Act is now at risk of being contracted when it comes to matters of our former governor's papers.
posted by birdherder at 2:44 AM on May 15, 2004

Wow. I worked within Go To The Food Court For Lunch distance of Sharpstown mall for four years (still go back for nostalgia purposes on occasion.) Never knew about the history behind it, though. Thanks, lychee.
posted by Cyrano at 5:18 AM on May 15, 2004

...and I live in Sharpstown now. Great post!
posted by WolfDaddy at 7:47 PM on May 15, 2004