The Treasurer

Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt was arrested again this past weekend. Check out the story here from KPRC Channel 2 News: Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt’s latest arrest adds to growing legal troubles during re-election campaign.

Here is part of what Charles Kuffner had to say about the arrest:

I say this with as much respect and compassion as I can muster: Carla Wyatt should resign her office and suspend her campaign so that she can focus on taking care of herself. If need be, Commissioners Court should remove her from office with that stipulation. I don’t know what the situation is and I’m not going to guess, but the pattern is clear. Please take care of yourself, Carla Wyatt.

Here is all of Off the Kuff on this: Carla Wyatt arrested again | Off the Kuff.

Don’t hold me to this, but I don’t think Harris County Commissioners Court can remove the County Treasurer. They don’t have authority. I think a state district judge must be involved in the process and voters must file a petition with a state district court for removal.

I think it would be more difficult to remove her from the ballot as the Democratic Party nominee for County Treasurer.

I don’t know the County Treasurer. I don’t think I have ever met her.

She ran unopposed in the March 2026 Democratic Party Primary. No other Democrat in Harris County thought it was worth it to file and run for this position.

I have said it before. The Harris County Treasurer Office should be abolished. It is not needed.

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KPRC Channel 2 News did a piece a few days ago on the funds generated by the Harris County Toll Road Authority. Check it out here:

HOUSTON – Paying to sit in traffic. Houstonians are tired of it.

However, it’s the continuous reality along some parts of Beltway 8 which is operated by the Harris County Toll Road Authority — better known as HCTRA.

Overall, HCTRA is responsible for a system that consists of 133 miles, and in recent years they’ve launched a “Keep it Moving” campaign designed to attract and sell drivers.

One problem, drivers tell us they are routinely not moving. The system they pay for is not working for them, and as a result they are exiting the Beltway for a faster commute along surface streets.

“We’ve heard that feedback, but we’ve also heard the feedback that the lighting is good on our system, the condition of the roadway is really well,” said Roberto Treviño, the Executive Director of HCTRA.

However, a good roadway and lights? These are baseline expectations for drivers.

But, paying to sit in traffic or to flee from it because surface streets work better is another avenue altogether?

“I can’t speak for the people who are making the decision to get off our system, as we start taking a look at the traffic we are monitoring where the traffic is and we do have plans to address the congestion on our system,” said Treviño to 2 Investigates in a recent interview.

In 2025, HCTRA collected $874 million dollars in toll revenue, according to Treviño.

In fact, HCTRA’s finances show that in Treviño’s first year in 2021 he was the only executive making an annual salary over $200,000. The agency lists his salary from five years ago at $287,492.40.

Fast forward to 2026 and the number is now at nine executives making north of $200,000 with Treviño’s publicly funded salary at $490,000.20.

Treviño justified his salary and those of his team with a system that is well-kept and with tolls that have not gone up in ten years.

The bigger question is what happens to the hundreds of millions of dollars that leave the toll road system?

After we filed a Texas Public Information Act request, HCTRA provided 2 Investigates with records showing that last year $398,613,574 dollars transferred to Harris County Commissioners for “mobility projects” in their precincts.

So what projects did the dollars go to?

“So that is one of the things, once that transfers out it is no longer in HCTRA’s financials and those projects are no longer operated,” said Treviño.

However, when asked as to who is overseeing these dollars?

Treviño said, “It varies between the county engineer and HCTRA.”

But when reminded that the money goes to the county and he doesn’t get involved with it?

Treviño quickly acknowledged, “I am getting involved now, because here recently commissioners court adopted it, where HCTRA is going to hire a third party auditor. It’s going to audit the use of those funds so that is where my involvement is in now recently.”

Here is the entire read: Houston drivers paid nearly $1 billion in tolls — so why are they still stuck in traffic?
I saw the story when it aired. KPRC Channel 2 investigative reporter Mario Diaz interviewed Mr. Treviño, and I was surprised how unprepared Treviño was. He couldn’t answer the questions. They weren’t trick or gotcha questions either. Dude gets paid close to a half million dollars and he made his agency look like one huge pile of ineptness. They would have been better off having their paid spokespersons Jerome Gray and Lisa Foronda handle the interview from their convertible.

If the Toll Road Authority wants to continue to be a cash cow for the county, they need to quickly address congestion. Just saying.

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I went to Saint Arnold Brewery Friday evening to a season ticket holder watch party. I was given a free season ticket holder lid and a Saint Arnold pint glass. That is Amber Ale in the Art Car pint glass in the featured photo from Saint Arnold Brewery Friday night.

Our next 7 games are at Daikin Park and against AL West teams. It goes without saying that we need to have a good homie.