Zachry Construction is one of Senator Hutchison's largest contributors
Zachry Complains to Radnofsky Campaign
August 20, 2006
Press Release
Barbara Ann Radnofsky US Senate 2006
Copyright 2006
Houston, Texas- Vicky Waddy, spokeswoman for Zachry Construction, the highway construction giant whose family members and political action committee constitute one of Sen. Hutchison's largest contributors, complained to Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Barbara Ann Radnofsky over Radnofsky's coverage of the company in press releases concerning the Trans-Texas Corridor.
Radnofsky's campaign manager Seth Davidson explained: "Zachry Construction called and was extremely upset. They demanded to know 'What is the purpose of using the Zachry name in your campaign release? And, what is the reference to Rockwall--we don't even have any projects in Rockwall right now.'"
Radnofsky, returning from three days in Rockwall, where she and other citizens turned out in force for the last Trans-Texas Corridor public hearing, responded to Zachry:
"Zachry Construction Company received $987,436,908 from TxDOT in contracts, ranking second in money contracts awarded between January, 2001 and December, 2004. The Zachry family and the Zachry PAC donated massively to my opponent, who voted for tolling projects in the federal highway bill and who has spoken publicly about wanting to build the Trans-Texas Corridor. She's wrong. We don't need this corrupt, wasteful, highway tolling project. We need a modern transportation policy for Texas and a free highway system.
"Sen. Hutchison should return the many thousands of dollars she has received during this election cycle from Zachry-related interests, and the even larger amounts she received from other entities standing to benefit from the Trans-Texas Corridor."
The Radnofsky releases were sent in connection with the Rockwall hearing on the Trans-Texas Corridor, a 50-year plus project that creates eight massive toll roads cutting swaths throughout Texas, in large part by taking private land from citizens, by privatizing the core of the state's transportation system, and by tolling drivers to pay for the $183.5 billion project.
Radnofsky continued: "The concession contract I discussed in Rockwall, sections five and six of the Highway 130 project, for example, greatly favors the Cintra-Zachry team, which will receive the lion's share of profits. The negotiators for this contract quite literally gave away the farm--only it wasn't theirs to give.
"Texans cannot afford these corrupt concession contracts, negotiated in secret and planned across Texas on a scale that boggles the imagination, taking private property and taxing Texans with tolls for roads that will be obsolete by the time they are completed."
Zachry Construction's PAC, its individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families rank #7 in donations to the Hutchison campaign, having given $25,600 during this election cycle. (Source: OpenSecrets.org).
The campaign press releases triggering Zachry's reaction are available at www.radnofsky.com
Barbara Ann Radnofsky US Senate 2006
Seth Davidson
Campaign Manager
email: seth@radnofsky.com
phone: 713-858-6256
Barbara Ann Radnofsky US Senate 2006
Katie Floyd
Communications Director
email: katie.floyd@radnofsky.com
phone: 713-858-9391
© 2006 Barbara Ann Radnofsky US Senate: www.radnofsky.com
August 20, 2006
Press Release
Barbara Ann Radnofsky US Senate 2006
Copyright 2006
Houston, Texas- Vicky Waddy, spokeswoman for Zachry Construction, the highway construction giant whose family members and political action committee constitute one of Sen. Hutchison's largest contributors, complained to Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Barbara Ann Radnofsky over Radnofsky's coverage of the company in press releases concerning the Trans-Texas Corridor.
Radnofsky's campaign manager Seth Davidson explained: "Zachry Construction called and was extremely upset. They demanded to know 'What is the purpose of using the Zachry name in your campaign release? And, what is the reference to Rockwall--we don't even have any projects in Rockwall right now.'"
Radnofsky, returning from three days in Rockwall, where she and other citizens turned out in force for the last Trans-Texas Corridor public hearing, responded to Zachry:
"Zachry Construction Company received $987,436,908 from TxDOT in contracts, ranking second in money contracts awarded between January, 2001 and December, 2004. The Zachry family and the Zachry PAC donated massively to my opponent, who voted for tolling projects in the federal highway bill and who has spoken publicly about wanting to build the Trans-Texas Corridor. She's wrong. We don't need this corrupt, wasteful, highway tolling project. We need a modern transportation policy for Texas and a free highway system.
"Sen. Hutchison should return the many thousands of dollars she has received during this election cycle from Zachry-related interests, and the even larger amounts she received from other entities standing to benefit from the Trans-Texas Corridor."
The Radnofsky releases were sent in connection with the Rockwall hearing on the Trans-Texas Corridor, a 50-year plus project that creates eight massive toll roads cutting swaths throughout Texas, in large part by taking private land from citizens, by privatizing the core of the state's transportation system, and by tolling drivers to pay for the $183.5 billion project.
Radnofsky continued: "The concession contract I discussed in Rockwall, sections five and six of the Highway 130 project, for example, greatly favors the Cintra-Zachry team, which will receive the lion's share of profits. The negotiators for this contract quite literally gave away the farm--only it wasn't theirs to give.
"Texans cannot afford these corrupt concession contracts, negotiated in secret and planned across Texas on a scale that boggles the imagination, taking private property and taxing Texans with tolls for roads that will be obsolete by the time they are completed."
Zachry Construction's PAC, its individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families rank #7 in donations to the Hutchison campaign, having given $25,600 during this election cycle.
The campaign press releases triggering Zachry's reaction are available at
Barbara Ann Radnofsky US Senate 2006
Seth Davidson
Campaign Manager
email: seth@radnofsky.com
phone: 713-858-6256
Barbara Ann Radnofsky US Senate 2006
Katie Floyd
Communications Director
email: katie.floyd@radnofsky.com
phone: 713-858-9391
© 2006 Barbara Ann Radnofsky US Senate:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Sunday, August 20, 2006
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