TRAVIS DA: More Troubling GOP Connections For Montford

Capitol Annex has learned that James Jonas, a San Antonio Republican lobbyist who has worked for AT&T, is making fund-raising calls on behalf of Travis County DA candidate Mindy Montford.

Jonas has a long record tying him to the Republican Party of Texas and Tom DeLay. At his former law firm, he represented the Republican Party of Texas (and even threatened a lawsuit against the now-defunct website, EnronOwnsTheGOP.com). He is also a former staffer for GOP senator Phil Gramm, and was involved with former State Rep. Rick Green, who got in some legal trouble over a vitamin scam. And, Jonas advised Tom DeLay on his 2003 redistricting scheme.

The November 3, 2005 Houston Chronicle also reported that Jonas provided a plane for DeLay’s Texans for a Republican Majority to fly Texas Supreme Court Justice Wallace Jefferson across the state to raise money for TRMPAC:

One campaign trip Jefferson made on behalf of TRMPAC used an airplane provided by San Antonio lawyer James Jonas, who is law partners with another DeLay co-defendant, Jim Ellis.

Jefferson also shared a campaign treasurer with TRMPAC, Bill Ceverha of Dallas. Also, Bill Ceverha of Dallas in 2002 was the campaign treasurer for both TRMPAC and Jefferson’s election campaign.

DeLay, Ellis and Colyandro are accused of conspiracy to violate state elections laws, money laundering and conspiracy to money launder in connection to how TRMPAC spent corporate money in the 2002 Texas House elections.

Needless to say, this is quite an interesting development–especially for a candidate in the Democratic Primary. Montford faces three others in the March 4 Democratic Primary, which will decide the outcome of the race as no Republican filed to replace retiring Travis County DA Ronnie Earle.

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