Controversial PAC attracts more controversy

Austin4All’s first foray into government-mandated transparency has failed to please one of the PAC’s most aggressive critics. Attorney Fred Lewis announced on Sunday that he is considering filing new ethics complaints against the group in the wake of a finance report it filed with the Office of the City Clerk on Friday. In a press release, Lewis said the “report appears to provide very incomplete and misleading information.” He pointed out that the PAC’s reported contributions all came after the group designated Rachel Kania as its treasurer on Feb. 8, despite claims that it was using paid canvassers as early as January to gather signatures on its petition to recall City Council Member Ann Kitchen. Lewis also noted that the PAC did not report any expenditures at all and also has an unexplained discrepancy between its reported $29,500 in cash donations and the $44,100 the group says it has on hand. As for the $17,100 in in-kind contributions Austin4All reported, Lewis says the group’s disclosure “does not provide meaningful specificity or comply with the requirements” of state law. Lewis pledged to continue looking into the matter and said he may file additional ethics complaints later this week.