La Marque residents allege fraud and misuse of grant funds; council recesses into executive session on city manager

Several residents of La Marque, Texas, used the council's public-comment period to raise allegations of falsified applications, misused grant money and other misconduct, and the City Council recessed into executive session to deliberate personnel matters concerning the city manager.

The public comment session featured multiple speakers alleging wrongdoing by elected officials and city employees. Robert Harvey, a La Marque resident, said he and others have “publicly exposed councilman Lowery” and alleged unlawful conduct by that council member and others. Harvey also said a city employee, “J B Pritchett,” was accused of “stealing valor and lying on official government documents” and that police were investigating vandalism at that employee’s home that “police now suspect he may have staged,” which Harvey added was alleged.

Why it matters: Speakers asked the council to verify applications, background checks and grant records and to hold officials accountable. Several commenters said criminal or independent investigations had not progressed and urged the council or its Economic Development Corporation to act.

During public…