'I’ve got a little problem': Knox raises concerns with selection of subcontractor West & Associates

A recent Houston City Council meeting scheduled to discuss redistricting considerations was met with concerns as long-time councilmember Mike Knox raised his issue with the selection of subcontractor West & Associates, owned by Sen. Royce West. 

The vendor, Thompson & Horton law firm, was hired to defend the redistricting plan and intervene should any legal issues arise. The firm selected the Dallas-based law firm West & Associates as the subcontractor. Among comments, Knox said the selection presents a conflict of interest and comes alongside a strong appearance of politicization.

“I’ve got a little problem with this recommendation from this attorney with Sen. Royce West, who owns the law firm, who’s going to receive 24% of this issue,” Knox said during the meeting. “I thought the purpose of OBO was to give underprivileged businesses the opportunities to succeed. I don’t think that Sen. Royce West would qualify for that.”

Moving forward, Knox requested the council find another law firm that is not connected to the Texas legislature to help in the city’s redistricting effort, emphasizing the need to avoid a look of politicization.

“Publicly, it’s going to appear that we are gerrymandering sites to serve some political purpose,” Knox added.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner also attended the city council meeting.

Turner, who served in the Legislature with West for 13 years, dismissed Knox's concerns.

"This has nothing to do with drawing Democrat or Republican seats,” he said. “We are not drawing Republican or Democratic seats. We are not in the business of drawing Democratic seats or Republican seats.”

While Turner claimed politics were not involved in the selection, he said subcontractors are chosen by a prime contractor and are not chosen by him or the administration.

This isn't the first instance that Turner's influence over selected subcontractors has been under scrutiny. Last year, Turner was accused of directing affordable housing contracts toward certain "preferred developers and subcontractors."

In 2005, Dallas City Hall employees and West were subpoenaed as part of a federal corruption investigation regarding communications. In another past instance, the FBI issued a search warrant for West's records dealing with a southern Dallas inland port project.

Houston City Council is set to consider the contract on Wednesday, March 2. There is also a public comment session scheduled for Tuesday, March 1.