Keating & Pelham: Legal Logo Woes

by | Apr 13, 2024 | BNSF Railroad, Elections, Frisco City Secretary, John Keating, Politics

In our blog Legal Logo Woes, we told you how the city website clearly states you cannot use the City of Frisco logo in any way for campaigning purposes.  Multiple residents complained to the city secretary regarding the obvious infractions by the candidates using the city logo while campaigning, we were shocked the response from the city was it is not their problem.  Morrow said, the city does not own the logo, BNSF Railway does.  She went on to say the license agreement the City of Frisco has does not address the use of the logo by candidates in city or other elections.  Then she ended the city does not have any jurisdiction in the matter.

Makes you wonder why if the city has no jurisdiction and the license agreement the city has does not address the use of the logo by candidates, why would they put a rule on their website and in the candidate packs that clearly states the logo is not legally available for your use during the campaign.  The city documents and website 1000% imply the use of the city logo is not allowed.  If they can’t enforce the rule why have the rule? 

We reached out to BNSF Railway for a comment regarding the complaints.  On February 6 we received a note back from them that they had forwarded the issue to their legal department to see what the next steps were for them.  Then on February 8, we received an email from Kendall Kirkham Sloan, Director of External Communications that said “BNSF does not endorse political candidates. We are working with the city on the use of the logo.”

We decided to check back to see if BNSF Railway, The City of Frisco, or Wes Pierson, the City Manager would make sure his current sitting council members followed the rules.  Attending a city event is fine but “the purpose of campaigning” is when you cross into dangerous territory.  For example, the Keating For Frisco website is being used FOR CAMPAIGNING and the point of the site is to get him reelected which is why it is on every campaign printed piece of material.  “Learn more at Keating For Frisco” or just click the QR code which takes you to his website.  Even though we pointed out the RULE VIOLATIONS back in early February, imagine our surprise to learn Keating still has the City Logo in two different places on his website as of today.  Just another way Keating is giving the middle finger to the rules that apply while campaigning.

Then we learned about a Private Meet & Greet held by none other than our first family, Jeff and Dana Cheney.  The invite states it is a Mix and Mingle Happy Hour, not the same as a Keg Party, for candidates John Keating, Angelia Pelham and the Safety-First Frisco Vote No PAC.  To us, this is a campaigning invite since they are using the “Re-Election” logos that belong to the candidates and the logo telling citizens how to vote for propositions.  Surely, we will not see the City of Frisco logo here, right?  Wrong!

Several pictures have been posted across social media of the event and it is CLEAR, Angelia Pelham is breaking the rules of the use of the city logo while campaigning.  She is wearing her City Council Member Badge with the city logo.  Now many would say this is no big deal, but it is because if anyone knows ‘THE RULES’ it is our current city council members who have already been through a campaign in the past.  We can prove Angelia knows the rules, just look at previous events like the Frisco Chamber Forum or SLAN Forum, she is wearing her Re-Elect Angelia Pelham badge.  

We plan to reach out to BNSF Railway again because their last email to us said they were working with the city regarding the proper use of the logo, so either A) they endorse the candidates or B) they don’t, and they make them stop using a trademark logo that the city does not own while campaigning.  It is simple folks, follow the rules, not sometimes, but all the time.

Election Fix: Frisco Chamber’s Biggest Failure

by | Apr 11, 2024 | Civil Service and Collective Bargaining, Elections, Frisco Chamber, Frisco Fire Department, Politics, Safety First Frisco PAC

Election time comes and night after night there is a new forum to attend.  They are great because you can learn a lot about the candidates and issues.  We like to go to the Frisco Chamber of Commerce Forum because we assumed it would be the most neutral so to speak when it comes to candidates and issues. 

According to the website, the Frisco Chamber of Commerce plays a vital role in the local business community. Their mission is to protect and promote commerce through advocacy, resources, and connections.  If you click on the “ADVOCACY” link it takes you to the government affairs mission statement which is to inform, educate, engage, and advocate for the business community regarding relevant public policy.  It goes on to say, “In order to fulfill the Chamber’s mission statement “to protect and promote commerce,” the Frisco Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs division, along with the Board of Directors, takes a strong and proactive stance on governmental issues.”

We were surprised when several readers who own local businesses sent us a copy of some email blasts, they received put out by the Frisco Chamber.  One resident said, “It was disheartening to see the Chamber involve themselves in an issue that should be decided by citizens.”  Another resident said, “If the Chamber receives money from the city would this be considered electioneering?”  Then we looked over social media and found a post by resident James Nunn that reads, “The Frisco Chamber of Commerce just sent an e-blast to their membership advocating a “no” vote on a local issue relating to the workforce of the City of Frisco.  This is another example of the Chamber pandering to elected (and formerly elected) officials in Frisco.  This action alienates part of the membership and effectively removes the Chamber as an independent voice on local issues.”

We agree 1000% with Mr. Nunn.  It was not just about the TWO e-blasts, one in March and one in April, that concerned us.  On their website, it states after hearing presentations from both sides they are recommending voting no, but did the Frisco Fire Fighters Association ever really have a chance of getting endorsed by the Chamber?  What they didn’t tell you is that the Vote No PAC received money from the Hall Grup and others tied to the Board of Directors before the presentations were ever made.  Plus they had folks from the city, city boards and commissions sitting in on this presentation.  CAN YOU HONESTLY TELL ME THIS WAS A DECISION BEST FOR BUSINESS OWNERS?  CAN THE CHAMBER TODAY SAY THE FIX WAS NOT IN, BECAUSE IT SURE LOOKS LIKE IT.

What if we told you from 2017 to 2024 the City of Frisco has paid the Chamber $393,590.21 for items listed as promotional marketing, dues & subscriptions, travel/meals/lodging, and food & provisions, would that seem like a conflict to you?  Most of that money is for “promotional marketing” of course.   We tried to find out if the Frisco Fire Fighters Association ever paid the Chamber, but we have not heard back at this time.  Even in the remote chance they had, I am guessing they never paid almost $400k.  So of course, the chamber formulated a decision that sides with the city.  It is called ‘MONEY HONEY!’

Even more disturbing is that at the Chamber Forum, we have heard they are giving the Vote No group 10 minutes to speak, but they have not invited the Fire Association.   So that is a DIRECT VIOLATION of three of their “FOUR PILLARS” to INFORM, EDUCATE, ENGAGE, AND ADVOCATE.  In this case, they advocated for one side, not educating the public to make their own decision. Does the Frisco Chamber think business owners and residents are stupid and can’t make informed decisions if given the information?   

We are back to the same old thing, and it is called Money!  The PAC has raised over $100k in two months, the Frisco Chamber is in bed and paid lots of money by the city.  Where in the hell do you draw the line as a resident of what is acceptable behavior from our city and its associates like the Frisco EDC, Frisco CDC, and Frisco Chamber? Did we mention the 2023 Executive of the Year at the recent Frisco Chamber Gala was no other than Mayor Real Estate Mogul Jeff Cheney?  To top it off Admin Professional of the Year went to his own Dolly Chatterjee who works for …. CHENEY GROUP!