If Beth Van Duyne doesn’t pay her biz taxes, why should Irving voters trust her?

Our View

Candidates in glass houses should likely consider not throwing rocks.

Former Irving City Council member Beth Van Duyne’s has accused current Mayor Herbert Gears’ administration of mismanagement of the proposed $250 million entertainment center. Her repeated claims regarding the disputed entertainment center were cited as the key reason she finished first and forced a runoff in last month’s hotly contested election. Van Duyne received 41 percent of the vote and Gears received 38 percent.

According to Van Duyne, Gears’ administration offers “a lot of pretty pictures but no real substance behind them,” regarding economic development proposals for the city.

However, if voters take a closer look at Van Duyne’s professional track record, they would likely come to the same conclusion. Her resume paints a “pretty picture” it just happens to not be true.

According to her online resume on the popular social networking site LinkedIn.com, she is currently the President of BCI Marketing. Sounds impressive, the only problem is according to documents from the Texas Secretary of State, BCI was slapped with a Texas Forfeiture on July 1, 2005.  Her resume indicates she has served as the company’s president since February 2002, which is interesting given the fact the State of Texas shows the Articles of Organization were not filed until July, 2003.

Van Duyne demands the voters hold Gears responsible for the leadership of the City of Irving. That is fair, but shouldn’t the voters consider her leadership which resulted in the forfeiture of the company to the State of Texas?

However, we understand things happen, sometimes not in your control even as the leader of an organization. But perhaps voters should also consider the fact that she is listed as President of Monumentals, Inc. which started in June 2003. Yet by January 7, 2005 it was also seized by the State of Texas for Tax Forfeiture.

Is this the kind of leadership worthy of the City of Irving? Is it the type of leadership the City of Irving can afford?

She criticizes Gears for abusing his power and broken faith with the voters. What about the State of Texas taxpayers who had faith that under Van Duyne’s leadership two – not one – companies would pay their fair share of the taxes owed.

On the website for her campaign Van Duyne prominently promises to, “Restore accountability and fiscal responsibility to the city budget.” How can voters have confidence in her ability to deliver on this promise when her track record as a business leader is a picture of failure?

Even now there remain questions regarding the companies Van Duyne claims she has an interest in: BCI Marketing Group, LLC and Coolest Energy Solutions, LLC. On her Personal Financial State Disclosure Report filed April, 2011 she listed these two companies, yet when a search for information regarding Business Personal Property Taxes paid to Dallas County (searchable online) it indicates no such companies in their database.

So Van Duyne promises to manage the monies collected by the City of Irving, despite the fact she does not feel obliged to make sure that companies she leads pay their fair share of taxes? That’s leadership voters can believe in?

Mayor Herbert Gears has successfully led the City of Irving during his two terms. Not only are violet crimes down a reported 40 percent, substandard housing demolished, and a fair illegal immigrant program implemented but the City of Irving has addressed the healthcare needs of the uninsured. Through a partnership with public and private healthcare providers the Community-Oriented Primarily Care Clinic was opened, serving the city’s uninsured citizens. In fact during his tenure the city has received $30 million in Community Development Block Grants to help with better housing for seniors and dental care for children, along with supporting numerous nonprofits in the city.

Under the leadership of Mayor Gears, Irving has balanced its budget for six years, continued to attract Fortune 500 companies to move their headquarters to Irving. In fact at time where most city governments are rocked by the economic crisis Irving has received awards for financial transparency practices and received an AAA rating by financial rating agencies.

Voters should not believe the hype, and empty promises of Van Duyne, they sound appealing to anyone wanting accountability for the government. Yet why should we have confidence she can deliver when her track record as a private business leader demonstrates nothing but repeated failure, and someone who has no respect for obeying the tax laws of the community.

The North Dallas Gazette continues to endorse Gears because his leadership is not theoretical, but demonstrated. In these challenging times the city of Irving cannot afford to hand over the reins of city to a candidate that has demonstrated only financial failure of each organization she has led.