Dems say Sen. Brimer should cough up $357,000

Democrats are calling on Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth, to relinquish more than $300,000 from his campaign account after selling a luxury condo he once rented -- with donated political money -- from his wife.

Brimer for years used a legal loophole to rent the Austin property from his wife, Janna. Because it was considered her separate property, the senator said the arrangement did not run afoul of laws that bar the use of campaign funds to directly purchase real estate.  But in 2007, the Legislature shut down that loophole. (Other lawmakers, including Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville and state Rep. Vicki Truitt, R-Keller, had taken advantage of the same loophole before Truitt wrote the law closing it). Brimer sold his condo for an undisclosed sum the same year.

Now Democrats say Brimer didn’t take enough steps to separate himself from the property and should not enjoy any profits from it. They say they've got a figure based on appraisal figures and campaign records.

“We respectfully call on you to surrender from you considerable wealth funds in the amount of at least $357,000,’’ said Matt Angle, head of the Lone Star Project, a group devoted to challenging Republican politicians in Texas. Angle suggested Brimer give the money to charity.

This is a developing story, so stay tuned.

-- Jay Root