Report shows 1 company donated to Keep Round Rock Safe PAC

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Campaign financial reports for the Keep Round Rock Safe political action committee show only one company donated to the cause, even though the PAC identified itself on its website as a “coalition of local Round Rock businesses.” The PAC was behind a recent petition to add up to 12 new billboards within Round Rock city limits.

The report says the PAC received a $50,000 contribution and a $470,000 loan from a company called Texas Emergency Network, LLC. A search online for the company shows it shares the same address and suite number as MediaChoice, an Austin-based media company that sells billboard advertising.

According to the Keep Round Rock Safe website, MediaChoice is part of the coalition to add more billboards in Round Rock. The PAC says the billboards will have security and business benefits for the community, adding the signs will create a “safer and more prosperous future for us all.”

Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan is not a fan of the PAC or the company. He said it was misleading the community by not being transparent about how the billboards will help. The city said its city council met with the company in early 2023 to discuss changing the laws behind billboards, but no one was interested.

This summer a campaign to change the sign laws began with the Keep Round Rock Safe PAC. A spokesperson for the PAC said MediaChoice is not behind the PAC, but is one of its supporters.

Round Rock leaders warn voters of ‘misleading’ petition circulating at polls

“The only business that’s going to benefit is MediaChoice,” Morgan said. He points out that not one Round Rock business donated to the cause. If local businesses truly supported it, then we would see more contributions from different companies and individuals, not just one.

“Not one business was on there for a contribution. So were they mislead as well because I know several businesses who pulled their name off after they realized what was going on,” Morgan said.

The PAC’s petition to put a charter amendment on the ballot in May failed earlier this month after not gaining enough signatures. The city said the petition came up 200 signatures short of the required number to place it on the ballot. The PAC could try another petition in the future, and Mayor Morgan said he and city staff will be ready to make sure the community knows the full story.

“We’ll be prepared to make sure our citizens understand exactly what is being proposed,” Morgan explained.

Keep Georgetown Safe?

KXAN found a new website earlier this month that looked extremely similar to the Keep Round Rock Safe site, except this one is advocating for keeping Georgetown safe.

The Keep Georgetown Safe website has the same goal of changing the sign rules in Georgetown. The site says adding billboards can “enhance emergency preparedness, improve public safety, and create new economic opportunities.”

A spokesperson for the city of Georgetown said its planning department met with MediaChoice to discuss the Unified Development Code rewrite project. The project is focused on updating the city’s unified development code, which is currently in phase 2 of its process. In this phase, the city staff is developing drafts of proposed code amendments.

A spokesperson said it is too early in the process for the staff to present any recommended changes to the public, but at this point there has been no support for changing signage laws in the city.

Where did the PAC spend its money?

The finance reports show the PAC spent $486,000 of its contribution money during its campaign to add more signs in Round Rock. The PAC paid $462,587.20 to Potomac Strategy Group, LLC for campaign management and political consulting, according to the reports.

Potomac Strategy Group, LLC is managed by Matt Mackowiak, who is also the chairman of the Travis County Republican Party. In a statement emailed to KXAN, Mackowiak said, “We are proud to be helping Keep Round Rock Safe put a charter amendment on the ballot to let voters decide if they want a new tool for public safety which uses the latest technology to help recover missing children while also enabling small businesses to grow through advertising along I-35 and Hwy 45. Amber Alerts to cell phones display on 2-3 lines of text, while EMCs display images of kidnapped children and vehicles. What law enforcement official or desperate parent wouldn’t want to utilize that technology? We trust that the voters of Round Rock will make the right decision.”

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