Requests for comment from former Wichita County Auditor Cheryll Jones were marked “request closed” by the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
One inquiry asked about the legality of the County Election Tribunal’s appointment of Robin Fincannon as county elections supervisor because she is married to Commissioner Mickey Fincannon.
The other side questioned the legality of Commissioner Jeff Watts’ purchase of a surplus pickup truck from the county.
Jones filed the requests with the attorney general shortly before her term expired and was replaced by Matt Davis, whose term began Monday after being appointed by the county’s district judges.
On the first question, Jones asked the Attorney General whether there was a case of nepotism or a conflict of interest in the Commissioners Court’s hiring of Robin Fincannon and whether Mickey Fincannon could vote on her salary, office expenses or budget.
Wichita County Judge Jim Johnson responded at the time that Robin Fincannon was appointed by the county’s election commission – not the election court.
In the second question, Jones asked about the sale of a 2006 Chevrolet pickup truck at auction to Watts, who had driven it when it was still county property.
She alleged that Watts coordinated the sale with the auction site and placed the first bid before the truck was classified as surplus and released for sale. Jones asked whether a commissioner who sells items as surplus is allowed to personally bid on auction items and whether that commissioner is required to file a conflict of interest disclosure.
The Attorney General’s office closed the inquiries without comment.
According to the Attorney General’s website, the office may consider a request closed if:
- The person requesting the opinion withdrew the request.
- It turns out that the matter raised in the inquiry is the subject of pending legal proceedings.
- The chairman of a legislative committee expressed no interest in pursuing a pending proposal from a predecessor.
- The original applicant is no longer authorized.
- The Attorney General declined to comment under Government Code section 402.042(c)(2), which addresses the proper procedure for filing a petition.
- The request has been combined with another pending request regarding the same issues.
- Answering this request would require the clarification of factual questions that are not relevant to the expert opinion procedure.
The Attorney General’s website did not indicate the reason for Jones’ request.
Jones said Monday she had not seen the action from the attorney general’s office.
“It looks like the new auditor has been holding them back. You may have to ask yourself why? It’s unfortunate, but that’s exactly what I feared would happen for the citizens,” she said.
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