Opinion ID: 4380332
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Recall Campaign

Text: Brown chaired a specific-purpose political committee called El Pasoans for Traditional Family Values (“EPTFV”), which was created to support a measure on the November 10, 2010 election ballot. Brown and EPTFV led an effort to pass Ordinance No. 017546, called the “Traditional Family Values Ordinance,” which provided that “the city of El Paso endorses traditional family values by making health benefits available only to city employees and their legal spouse and dependent children.” Voters approved the Traditional Family Values Ordinance. But the El Paso City Council subsequently amended the Ordinance to restore benefits to individuals who would have lost their benefits. Mayor John F. Cook (“Cook”) cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of amending the ordinance. Brown and EPTFV then began circulating recall petitions seeking a recall election to remove Cook and two other elected representatives from office. Brown announced the recall campaign from the Church pulpit. The state court of appeals later found that: (1) Brown used the WOL Church/TBM website to recruit volunteers to circulate recall petitions; (2) the website provided an electronic form through which people could register to circulate recall petitions; (3) the website added a list of locations, including WOL Church, where recall petitions could be found; and (4) the website included a link for the recall of the mayor and representatives. See Cook v. Tom Brown Ministries, 385 S.W.3d 592, 602–03 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2012, pet. denied). But the site also listed a disclaimer stating, “This internet site is owned by Tom Brown and not the Church. Tom Brown in his official capacity as pastor of Word of Life Church neither encourages or [sic] discourages the recall of the Mayor and Representatives.” Brown also wrote in a statement on the Church website that the purpose of the recall was “to help restore the rights of the voters.” 3 Case: 18-50108 Document: 00514884981 Page: 4 Date Filed: 03/22/2019 No. 18-50108