City appeals records request for investigation docs into Houston City Councilman Stephen Costello, who was cleared of any wrongdoing or conflict of interest

A citizen’s request for information relating to city contracts held by Houston City Councilman Stephen Costello has been referred to the state Attorney General’s office.

The April 4 request from David Welch, a Houston pastor, seeks documents and communications relating to the recent inspector general’s investigation of Costello for “potential conflicts of interest or violations of the city charter.”

Costello was cleared of any wrongdoing in March.

In an interview in December, inspector genera Robert Doguim said that records regarding “sustained allegations” against a person being investigated would “be limited” but did not address records from investigations that found no wrongdoing.

The notice of appeal from the city to the AG’s office cites a broad section of Texas Government Code, which the city will break down in a subsequent filing. A call to City Attorney David Feldman was not immediately returned. Costello and his office did not respond to e-mails.

Welch is part of a group of critics of the city’s voter-approved Proposition 1 measure, which levies a tax on residents and businesses for road and infrastructure improvements. The measure was approved in November and will generate $125 million a year. The tax is set to be levied beginning in July.

Foes of the measure pointed to its strong financial backing from engineers, including Costello, and the possibility they could benefit from passage of Prop 1, referred to by proponents as Renew Houston.

***

Read more at Texas Watchdog-Recent Stories