Winning over Texas politicians
January 11, 2011 last updated August 3, 2012
by C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. - Citizens Against Special Interest Lobbying in Public Schools
Political contributions from Gulenists to Texas politicians
(this list is not comprehensive)
| Contributor | Employer | Recipient | Amount | Date |
| Ahmadov, Ismayil | Cosmos Foundation | Allen, Alma A. | 2000.00 | 04/05/2012 |
| Ahmadov, Ismayil | Azerbajani American Cultural Alliance | Eissler, W. Robert | 2000.00 | 05/23/2012 |
| Ahmadov, Ismayil | Azerbajani American Cultural Alliance | Eissler, W. Robert | 2000.00 | 05/23/2012 |
| Ak, Akin | Cosmos Foundation | Allen, Alma A. | 500.00 | 04/19/2012 |
| Ak, Akin | Cosmos Foundation/Finance Director | Gene Green Congressional Campaign | 500.00 | 06/01/2010 |
| Ak, Akin | Cosmos Accountant | National Republican Congressional Committee | 1000.00 | 10/14/2009 |
| Aksoy, Kudbettin | -- | Al Green for Congress | 1000.00 | 10/12/2010 |
| Akyildiz, Ebru | Self Employed/Business owner | Lee, Sheila Jackson | 1200.00 | 11/01/2010 |
| Akyildiz, Ebru | -- | Al Green for Congress | 1000.00 | 10/12/2010 |
| Akyildiz, Ebru | Self Employed/Business owner | Lee, Sheila Jackson | 1000.00 | 03/01/2010 |
| Akyildiz, Ebru | Self Employed/Business owner | Lee, Sheila Jackson | 2400.00 | 08/28/2011 |
| Akyildiz, Yalcin & Ebru | Harmony Schools | Turner, Sylvester | 1250.00 | 01/21/2012 |
| Akyildiz, Yalcin | -- | Turner, Sylvester | 1000.00 | 09/30/2011 |
| Akyildiz, Yalcin | Harmony Public Schools | House Democratic Campaign Committee | 500.00 | 10/26/2011 |
| Akyildiz, Yalcin | Cosmos Foundation | Allen, Alma A. | 500.00 | 04/19/2012 |
| Akyildiz, Yalcin | Harmony Schools/Finance Manager | Lee, Sheila Jackson | 1200.00 | 11/01/2010 |
| Akyildiz, Yalcin | Harmony Public Charter Schools/Supe | The Reyes Committee, Inc | 500.00 | 10/22/2010 |
| Akyildiz, Yalcin | Cosmos Foundation, Inc./Assistant | Bill White for Texas | 750.00 | 06/29/2009 |
| Akyildiz, Yalcin | Harmony Schools/Finance Manager | Lee, Sheila Jackson | 2500.00 | 11/14/2011 |
| Akyildiz, Yalcin | Harmony Schools/Finance Manager | Lee, Sheila Jackson | 2400.00 | 08/28/2011 |
| Akyildiz, Yalcin | Harmony Public School District/Educ | Poe for Congress | 2000.00 | 03/31/2011 |
| Almus, Kadir | -- | Al Green for Congress | 1000.00 | 10/12/2010 |
| Almus, Kadir | Harmony School for Excellence Principal | Bill White for Texas | 750.00 | 06/29/2009 |
| Altinisik, Yakup | Self Employed/Real Estate Broker | Olson for Congress Committee | 250.00 | 11/21/2009 |
| Amirov, Gara | Self | Allen, Alma A. | 1000.00 | 04/05/2012 |
| Arslan, Guner | -- | Elliott Naishtat | 100.00 | 11/25/2011 |
| Arslan, Guner | -- | Elliott Naishtat | 300.00 | 10/11/2010 |
| Arslan, Guner | -- | Elliott Naishtat | 60.00 | 10/28/2009 |
| Arslan, Guner | -- | Elliott Naishtat | 400.00 | 10/27/2006 |
| Aslandogan, Yuksel | North American College | Ellis, Rodney G. | 1000.00 | 10/12/2011 |
| Ay, Fatih | Cosmos Foundation/Director | Pete Sessions for Congress | 1300.00 | 10/21/2010 |
| Caglar, Erdal | Cosmos Foundation | Allen, Alma A. | 500.00 | 04/19/2012 |
| Caglar, Erdal | -- | Bradley, J. David | 1200.00 | 05/25/2012 |
| Cakan, Erkan | Cosmos Foundation IT | Gene Green Congressional Campaign | 500.00 | 06/01/2010 |
| Celebi, Mursel | Harmony Schools | Turner, Sylvester | 500.00 | 01/20/2012 |
| Celepcikay, Oner Ulvi | Univ. of Houston Computer Science | Silvestre Reyes | 500.00 | 10/22/2010 |
| Celepcikay, Oner | Cosmos Foundation | Texans for Rick Perry | 1500.00 | 09/22/2010 |
| Celepcikay, Oner | Cosmos Foundation | Texans for Rick Perry | 1500.00 | 09/22/2010 |
| Celepcikay, Oner Ulvi | Univ. of Houston Computer Science | Poe for Congress | 300.00 | 02/15/2010 |
| Celepcikay, Oner | Univ. of Houston Computer Science | Gene Green Congressional Campaign | 500.00 | 01/16/2009 |
| Celepcikay, Oner Ulvi | Univ. of Houston Computer Science | Poe for Congress | 300.00 | 12/31/2007 |
| Celepcikay, Berna | -- | Culberson for Congress | 200.00 | 03/28/2008 |
| Celepcikay, Oner | -- | Culberson for Congress | 200.00 | 03/28/2008 |
| Cetinkaya, Coskun | SharePoint Architect/Director | Poe for Congress | 300.00 | 2/15/2010 |
| Cetinkaya, Coskun | Texas Gulf Foundation/Executive Dir | Olson for Congress Commmittee | 250.00 | 11/21/2009 |
| Dogan, Bulent | School of Science and Technology | Diaz, Maria | 500.00 | 03/01/2010 |
| Dogan, Mehmet | Cosmos Foundation | Allen, Alma A. | 500.00 | 04/19/2012 |
| Dogan, Yunus | Atlas Texas Construction | Culberson for Congress | 500.00 | 03/28/2008 |
| Dogan, Yunus | -- | Poe for Congress | 1000.00 | 12/31/2007 |
| Ekren, Metin | Harmony School of Excellence/Principal | Gene Green Congressional Campaign | 800.00 | 06/01/2010 |
| Erenkol, Ali | Harmony School of Excellence | Poe for Congress | 500.00 | 02/15/2010 |
| Gure, Ilker | Cosmos Foundation Asst. Superintendent | Lampson for Congress | 500.00 | 10/21/2008 |
| Gure, Ilker | NASA engineer | Poe for Congress | 500.00 | 12/31/2007 |
| Gure, Mr. and Mrs. Ilker | NASA engineer | Culberson for Congress | 375.00 | 03/28/2008 |
| Guvercin, Mustafa | -- | Howard, Donna S. | 450.00 | 08/14/2008 |
| Kocaeli, Fatih | Harmony School of Excellence/Teacher | Gene Green Congressional Campaign | 500.00 | 06/01/2010 |
| Namver, Mark | Cosmos Foundation Director | Gene Green Congressional Campaign | 500.00 | 06/01/2010 |
| Namver, Mark | School of Science and Technology | Bill White for Texas | 750.00 | 06/29/2010 |
| Okumus, Mehmet | -- | Allen, Alma A. | 100.00 | 07/23/2010 |
| Okumus, Mehmet | Raindrop Turkish House | Allen, Alma A. | 2000.00 | 04/05/2012 |
| Okumus, Mehmet | -- | Friends of Susan Combs | 250.00 | 11/04/2011 |
| Okumus, Mehmet | -- | Poe for Congress | 300.00 | 02/15/2010 |
| Okumus, Mehmet | -- | Olson for Congress Committee | 250.00 | 11/21/2009 |
| Okumus, Senol | -- | Friends of Susan Combs | 250.00 | 11/04/2011 |
| Oksuz, Kemal | Turquoise Council/President | Olson for Congress Committee | 1000.00 | 12/21/2011 |
| Oksuz, Kemal | Turquoise Council/President | Olson for Congress Committee | 1000.00 | 12/21/2011 |
| Oksuz, Mr. Kemal | TDM Construction/Partner | rickperry.org | 2500.00 | 12/08/2011 |
| Oksuz, Sevgi | Homemaker/Homemaker | Olson for Congress Committee | 331.00 | 12/12/2011 |
| Oksuz, Sevgi | Homemaker/Homemaker | Olson for Congress Committee | 500.00 | 12/12/2011 |
| Oksuz, Mrs. Sevgi | -- | rickperry.org | 2500.00 | 12/08/2011 |
| Ozer, Ozgur | Texas Gulf Institute | Texans for Rick Perry | 2000.00 | 09/22/2010 |
| Ozer, Ozgur | Texas Gulf Institute | Texans for Rick Perry | 2000.00 | 09/22/2010 |
| Ozer, Ozgur | Harmony Science Academy Superintend. | Poe for Congress | 300.00 | 02/15/2010 |
| Ozer, Ozgur | -- | Culberson for Congress | 500.00 | 03/28/2010 |
| Pecen, Fatma | Cosmo Foundation/Finance & Grant Ma | Sheila Jackson Lee | 1500.00 | 11/01/2010 |
| Pecen, Umit | Cosmo Foundation/CFO | Sheila Jackson Lee | 1500.00 | 11/01/2010 |
| Pecen, Umit | Cosmos Foundation CFO | Gene Green Congressional Campaign | 700.00 | 06/01/2010 |
| Pecen, Umit | -- | Al Green for Congress | 1000.00 | 10/12/2010 |
| Polat, Irfan | Cosmos Foundation | Allen, Alma A. | 500.00 | 04/19/2012 |
| Sel, Ibrahim | JP Morgan Chase & Co./Administrator | Elizabeth Ames Jones for Texas, Inc | 500.00 | 09/30/2010 |
| Sel, Mr. and Mrs. Ibrahim | JP Morgan Chase & Co | Culberson for Congress | 750.00 | 03/28/2008 |
| Sel, Ibrahim | JP Morgan Chase & Co./Administrator | Eddie Bernice Johnson for Congress | 300.00 | 05/08/2007 |
| Sumer, Ibrahim | University of Houston/Lecturer | Olson for Congress Committee | 250.00 | 11/21/2009 |
| Tamer, Bugra | Helix Design and Production VP | Olson for Congress | 250.00 | 11/21/2009 |
| Tamer, Bugra | ALB/Blair Architects | Culberson for Congress | 375.00 | 03/28/2008 |
| Tamer, Bugra | ConRail/Manager | Eddie Bernice Johnson for Congress | 300.00 | 10/30/2006 |
| Tarim, Cheryl | University of Houston/lecturer | Lee, Sheila Jackson (D) | 1750.00 | 11/01/2010 |
| Tarim, Cheryl | Cosmos Foundation | Allen, Alma A. | 500.00 | 04/19/2012 |
| Tarim, Cheryl | Harmony Public School District/Education | Poe for Congress ® | 1500.00 | 03/31/2011 |
| Tarim, Soner | Harmony Schools | Turner, Sylvester | 500.00 | 01/21/2012 |
| Tarim, Soner | Cormes [sic] Foundation (misspelling of Cosmos Foundation) | Texans for Rick Perry | 5000.00 | 10/13/2010 |
| Tarim, Soner | Cosmos Foundation Inc Superintendent | Olson for Congress | 250.00 | 11/21/2009 |
| Tarim, Soner | Cosmos Foundation/Administrator | Lee, Sheila Jackson (D) | 1750 | 11/01/2010 |
| Tarim, Soner | -- | Green, Alexander (D) | 500.00 | 10/12/2010 |
| Tarim, Soner | Cormes Foundation/Superintendent [sic] | Conaway, Michael ® | 500.00 | 09/21/2010 |
| Tarim, Soner | Harmony Public Schools/Superintende | White, Bill (D) | 500.00 | 06/29/2009 |
| Tarim, Soner | Metro/Administrative | Johnson, Eddie Bernice (D) | 400.00 | 05/08/2007 |
| Tiryakioglu, Yasar | Helix Production and Design owner | Lampson for Congress | 500.00 | 10/21/2008 |
| Tiryakioglu, Yasar | Raindrop Turkevi President | Poe for Congress | 500.00 | 12/31/2007 |
| Tosun, Ali | Self Employed/Retail Business Owner | Lee, Sheila Jackson | 1000.00 | 03/02/2010 |
| Tosun, Ali | Onder Yalin/Manager | Bill White for Texas | 1750.00 | 06/29/2009 |
| Ulusal, Elif | Self Employed/Industrial Engineer | Lee, Sheila Jackson (D) | 1500.00 | 11/01/2010 |
| Ulusal, Levent | Solidarity Contracting/company pres | Lee, Sheila Jackson (D) | 1500 | 11/01/2010 |
| Ulusal, Levent | Solidarity Contracting/company pres | Lee, Sheila Jackson (D) | 2000 | 08/28/2011 |
| Yavuz, Muhammet | Cosmos Foundation | Allen, Alma A. | 500 | 04/19/2012 |
| Yildirim, Gulsah | -- | Bolton, Valinda A. | 50.00 | 10/22/2008 |
| Yildirim, Yetkin | University of Texas Austin | Doggett for Congress | 750.00 | 10/15/2010 |
| Yildirim, Yetkin | -- | Howard, Donna S. | 125.00 | 05/01/2010 |
| Yildirim, Yetkin | The Institute of Interfaith Dialog | Bolton, Valinda A. | 500.00 | 09/23/2010 |
| Yildirim, Yetkin | University of Texas/Faculty | Pete Gallego | 500.00 | 09/26/2011 |
| Yildirim, Yetkin | -- | Howard, Donna S. | 100.00 | 09/30/2010 |
| Yildirim, Yetkin | -- | Naishtat, Elliott | 300.00 | 10/11/2010 |
| Yildirim, Yetkin | -- | Naishtat, Elliott | 400.00 | 10/27/2006 |
| Yuksel, Ekrem [sic] | Harmony School of Excellence Financ. | Gene Green Congressional Campaign | 500.00 | 06/01/2010 |
| Yuksel, Kerim | Microcosm Services and Solutions/Co | Rickperry.org Inc | 1000.00 | 12/14/2011 |
| Yuksel, Kerim | ABT, Inc. Manager | Eddie Bernice Johnson for Congress | 1000.00 | 10/29/2010 |
| Yuksel, Kerim | Macrocosm. Management | Pete Sessions for Congress | 1100.00 | 10/21/2010 |
| Yuksel, Zekeriya | Harmony Science Academy | House Democratic Campaign Committee | 500.00 | 07/02/2010 |
| Zirih, John Fatih | Self employed/Realtor | Pete Gallego | 500.00 | 9/26/2011 |
| Zirih, Fatih | MRC Building Solutions, LLC | Lloyd Doggett | 800.00 | 10/15/2010 |
| Zirih, Fatih | Turquoise Council/Realtor | Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee | 1000.00 | 09/19/2009 |
Gulenist Turkey trips of Texas politicians and their staff
The Institute of Interfaith Dialog (I.I.D.), Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians (TCAE), and the Raindrop Turkish House (a.k.a. Rain Drop Foundation) are the main sponsors. This list is just a sampling and is not comprehensive.
- Alma Allen, State Representative
- Eliott Naishtat, State Representative
- Valinda Bolton, State Representative, June 2008 (I.I.D.)
- Donna Howard, State Representative, June 2008 (I.I.D.)
- Troy Fraser, State Senator, Oct 2010 (TCAE)
- Leticia van de Putte, State Senator, Aug 2010 (Rain Drop Foundation)
- Associate Judge Andy Hathcock (Valinda Bolton's husband), June 2008 (I.I.D.)
- Travis County Constable Bruce Elfant and his wife, Lisa Harris, June 2008 (I.I.D.)
- David Wallace, former Mayor of Sugarland, Texas
- Victoria Anne Palmer, Staff of Congressman John Carter, summer 2010 (TCAE)
- Mark Ramon Williams, Staff of Congressman Sam Johnson, summer 2009 (I.I.D.)
- Christopher Roper Schell, Staff of Congressman Ralph Hall, summer 2009 (I.I.D.)
- Paul N. Balzano, Staff of Congressman Mike Conaway, summer 2009 (I.I.D.)
- Christopher William “Chris” Alsup, Staff of Congressman John Carter, summer 2009 (I.I.D.)
- Scott C. Graves, Staff of Congressman Mike Conaway, summer 2009 (I.I.D.)
- Lindsey Ray, Staff of Congressman Sam Johnson, summer 2009 (I.I.D.)
- Ryan D. Stalnaker, Staff of Congressman John Carter, summer 2009 (I.I.D.)
- Will Wynn, Mayor of Austin, August 2006 (I.I.D.)
Gulenist events involving Texas politicians
In Today’s Zaman, Sep 30, 2010, Saim Orhan, who is affiliated with Samanyolu, a major Gulenist media outlet in Turkey, wrote about his trip to Austin: “Our first stop was the Texas State Capitol, where we dropped in to meet some state representatives. We spoke with state representatives Donna Howard and Eliott Naishtat, both of whom knew a little about Turkey. Howard told us she had a chance to learn about the teachings of Fethullah Gulen, while Naishtat shared stories of his tour through Anatolia on a visit to Turkey and how impressed he was by both the land and the people. // Naishtat recalled his memorable trip through Turkey organized by the Raindrop Foundation and the Institute of Interfaith Dialogue. State representatives from Oklahoma were also in the party with them.”
________
From the website of the Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians: “Turkish Delegation meets with Texas state officials.” In attendance were:
- State Comptroller Susan Combs
- Commissioner of Education Robert Scott
- Austin Mayor Lee Leffinwell
- Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson
Congressman Louie Gohmert attended the Grand Opening Gala of the Turkic American Alliance (formerly ATAF), Washington DC, May 12, 2010, celebrating the inauguration of an umbrella organization with 180 member organizations, all linked to Fethullah Gulen.
________
US Congressman Honorable Louie Gohmert attended a lunch at the Raindrop Turkish House, Houston, Feb 28, 2008 organized by Raindrop Turkish House, The Institute of Interfaith Dialog (IID), The Institute of International Commerce and Partnership (IICP), Texas Gulf Institute (TGI), all Gulenist organizations.
________
Attending the 5th Annual Friendship and Dialogue Dinner of the El Paso chapter of the Institute of Interfaith Dialog (IID) Nov 27, 2010:
- El Paso Mayor John Cook
- El Paso Senator Eliot Shapleigh ("received Institute of Interfaith Dialog Community Service award after serving 14 years in Texas State Senate")
- Senator-Elect Jose Rodriguez
- El Paso County Judge-Elect Veronica Escobar
- Texas State Representatives Chente Quintanilla and Marisa Marquez
- El Paso City Representatives
- County Commissioners
- Dictrict Judges
- (The Institute of Interfaith Dialog website says that "many other valuable guests participated the dinner." The use of the word "valuable" in this statement is quite revealing.)
Attending the Institute of Interfaith Dialog's 8th Dallas Annual Friendship and Dialog Dinner, November 29, 2010:
- Dr. John Harper, Mayor of City of Rowlett
- Dwaine Caraway, Mayor Pro Tem at City of Dallas
The above list is only a sampling.
Return on investment
Below are just a few examples of the return on investment that Gulenists have received from Texas politicians:
Rep. Alma Allen's enthusiastic public support for Harmony Public Schools
As reported on the website of the Houston Chronicle in February 2012:
"Rep. Alma Allen, D-Houston, says she has 'a large Turkish community in my district and several Harmony schools in my district. I think they are fabulous....' .... Allen told Gerstenschlager she should 'underscore ‘stellar,’' [referring to the Harmony schools] and said she has visited Turkey twice..... And Allen, the Houston lawmaker, got in the last word during the public hearing. 'I am just dumbfounded,' she said. 'Of all the cultures.. I don’t know why we single out Turkey. I think the Turkish culture is wonderful. I hope they open up more schools.'"
State resolution 85 commending Fethullah Gulen
On January 25, 2011, the Texas Senate passed SR 85, a resolution "commending Fethullah Gulen for his contributions to the promotion of global peace." While most Texans pay scant attention to such ceremonial gestures and would probably prefer that their elected representatives attend to more substantive matters, this resolution was treated as major news by all Gulenist media outlets. For example, Today's Zaman ran a story on it.
The authors of the resolution, according to this Texas State Senate webpage, were Eddie Lucio Jr, Troy Fraser, Joan Huffman, Jane Nelson and Leticia van de Putte. Notice how at least two of these individuals had been on a Gulenist Turkey trip (see above).
Houston Proclamation declaring "Gulen Institute - Dialog of Civilizations Day"
From the website of the Azerbaijanian American Cultural Alliance (a Gulenist organization), referring to a Jan 2010 event called "Dialog of Civilizations Platform":
"The honorary guest of the program was Congressman Al Green. He stated the Gulen Movement is a peace movement and the aid campaign of the Raindrop Turkish House for the Haiti Earthquake was something to be applauded.
"Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and newly-elected Houston Mayor Annise Parker also sent messages to the Platform to show their support. Annise Parker issued a proclamation in which she declared 22-23 January as the 'Gulen Institute – Dialog of Civilizations Day'. "
Houston Mayor Bill White proclaims "Day of the Gulen Institute"
On Feb 23, 2008, the Gulenist TV network Ebru TV reported that
"Houston Mayor Bill White sent a letter of proclamation to the Gulen Institute executives wishing success, congratulations with their unique service to the Houstonians as well as declaring the February 21st as the Day of the Gulen Institute. US Congressman Ted Poe from the 2nd District of Texas and US Congressman John Culberson from the 7th District of Texas also sent letters of proclamations to the Gulen Institute executives recognizing the Institute and its initiatives wishing success and good will to their great endeavors."
Bill White, Ted Poe and John Culberson have all been recipients of Gulenist campaign contributions, as can be seen above.
Do your own investigating
Campaign finance reports for Texas state office candidates can be searched at the Texas Ethics Commission website. Turkey trips are declared on these reports. Federal campaign contributions can be easily searched, both by donor and candidate name, at the Newsmeat website. Congressional Turkey trips can be searched at the Legistorm website. The websites of Gulenist organizations such as the Raindrop Turkish House, Institute of Interfaith Dialog, Turquoise Council, and Gulen Institute show many short articles on events that Texas politicians have participated in.