What is County Commissioner Jerry Eversole buying with his campaign money?

(10/31/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- There are questions about the way a powerful county commissioner spends money; campaign money, and new hidden camera evidence that Jerry Eversole doesn't put in a full day at the office.

You've already seen how a workout is sometimes the only scheduled event on Jerry Eversole's calendar. Now, we're going shopping.

It's a Tuesday morning in September and Jerry Eversole is going out for his morning cup of coffee. No, he's not going to the office. He's going back home. Look at what time he leaves his house the second time -- 1:51pm.

It's not listed on Eversole's calendar as a vacation day, but it sure looks like one.

"Thank goodness you're starting to expose some of this," said taxpayer advocate Bob Lemer.

Eversole has 555 square miles of Harris County to govern, so where is he going?

Shopping.

First, it's Sports Authority on Post Oak. Then, it's off to Golf Galaxy. And then back home.

On this day, Eversole's official calendar lists no meetings or events all day or evening.

"Well, that's very obvious that he doesn't think he has to go to work," said Lemer.

We're watching again a few days later. Its 10:18am when Eversole leaves home, heading north from the Heights to 1960.

He's going shopping again. You can see him looking at shirts at Edwin Watts golf shop.

There is a luncheon speech on his agenda. But then, Eversole is off to play golf with other Precinct 4 employees.

Jerry Eversole clearly loves golf. On a Thursday in July, the only official event scheduled on his calendar was a practice tee time at 2:12pm. Eversole was playing at the Waterwood Invitational Golf Tournament in Huntsville.

In the last year and a half, Eversole has spent nearly $15,000 just at golf courses and golf stores using campaign funds. On his sworn campaign finance report, he usually calls it simply 'public relations.' "I don't think he bought public relations at a golf shop," said campaign finance expert Fred Lewis.

Lewis has seen lots of campaign reports.

" When you start spending it on things like clothes, books, and Internet at your house, an exercise club, and meal after meal, you're starting to get where you're either on the line or over it," he said.

Jerry Eversole had no opponent last year and isn't up for reelection until 2010. Yet he's spent a whopping $750,000 in campaign money in just 18 months.

"You're being paid?" we asked Eversole's paid spokesperson, Bill Miller.

"I'm being paid for this, yes," he said.

"From campaign funds?" we asked.

"Presumably so, yes," he responded.

Paid by Eversole to answer our questions because the commissioner wouldn't.

"The best way to discourage opposition is to be active and that involves spending money," said Miller.

"That's utterly ridiculous," said Lemer. "I can't imagine what he spent it on."

More than $4,000 spent at Golf Galaxy, more than $5,000 at Sports Authority, where the commissioner clearly likes to shop.

"There is a requirement that he has to describe the nature of the goods and services," said Lewis. "In my opinion, he hasn't done that satisfactorily."

There are hundreds of restaurant receipts. Such as 109 trips to Java Java alone. It's a coffee cafe just down the street from the commissioner's house. Then there's Starbucks. On some work days, Eversole stopped there three times. Nearly $10,000 in campaign cash spent on coffee.

"That's a lot of coffee for an office holder," said Lewis.

There's expensive art, books.

"He does purchase a lot of items that are giveaways at events," said Miller.

Giveaways to who? We tried for weeks to get the commissioner to show us receipts, name names, but he refused to do either.

"This is about the worst example I've ever seen of campaign expenditures being used for what appears to be for lifestyle and personal use," said Lewis.

What about the commissioner's workout? It appears contributors to his campaign paid for his bench presses, more than $8,000 since January 2006.

"I think it's very suspect and needs to be investigated," said Lewis.

On July 18, a Wednesday, the commissioner spent about three hours at his Precinct 4 road and bridge office on Ygnacio. By 12:15pm, Jerry Eversole's truck is parked in front of Affordable Nutrition again. He's there till almost 2pm working out. He'll stop at Starbucks and still be home by 2:36pm.

Want to see the campaign spending for yourself. Click on the links below:

- January 2006 semi-annual campagin finance report
- July 2006 semi-annual campagin finance report
- January 2007 semi-annual campagin finance report
- July 2007 semi-annual campagin finance report

On Thursday, the email trail and new hidden camera pictures the commissioner wouldn't talk about.

Tell Wayne what you think of the story on his blog.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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