Did a Tarrant County Commissioner candidate use his county government email to solicit campaign donations?
According to public records obtained by The Dallas Express, Roderick Miles Jr., who is running for the Precinct 1 County Commissioner position, allegedly used his email to solicit campaign donations.
“Good morning Pauline, it was great meeting you at NACo this weekend. This is Roderick Miles with Commissioner Roy Brooks office in Tarrant County. Thank you for your encouraging words and support. I look forward to us working together. For your reference here is my information as requested: PO Box 51372 Fort Worth, TX 76105,” reads a July 16 email that Miles sent.
The P.O. box he mentioned in the email is the same one used for his campaign.
The Texas Ethics Commission prohibits government employees from distributing political advertising through government email in connection with an election.
“No matter how enthusiastic you are about an election, it is important to remember that the Texas Election Code prohibits the use of political subdivision resources to produce or distribute political advertising in connection with an election,” the Texas Ethics Commission states.
Miles has been the executive administrator of programs and outreach for outgoing Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks since 2015, according to his LinkedIn profile.
“As the Precinct One Executive Administrator of Programs and Outreach for Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks, Roderick’s passion continues to drive his work. His responsibilities encompass a wide array of programs, from Prostate Cancer Awareness & Screening to Human Trafficking, all grounded in his unwavering commitment to make a meaningful difference. He also founded the Grow Southeast Urban Farm Initiative, addressing food disparities by empowering Southeast Fort Worth residents to convert their properties into farms, providing fresh produce to underserved minority communities,” Miles’s website reads.
The Dallas Express reached out to Miles for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.