Comments on: Texas Politics

Texas Politics

lychee — Sat, 15 May 2004 00:05:53 -0800

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.

By: birdherder

birdherder — Sat, 15 May 2004 02:44:07 -0800

Ah, but the Open Records Act is now at risk of being contracted when it comes to matters of our former governor's papers.

By: Cyrano

Cyrano — Sat, 15 May 2004 05:18:51 -0800

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.

By: WolfDaddy

WolfDaddy — Sat, 15 May 2004 19:47:30 -0800

...and I live in Sharpstown now. Great post!