Linda Polley

Elected Hill County Treasurer

Normally elected officials are removed from office by 1)death, 2)resignation, 3)recall, or 4)indictment, conviction, and removal. Hill County has not followed standard rules for election officials, and Linda Polley now faces the battle of a "whistleblower". We believe her removal by Hill County as a direct result of her investigation And the bringing to attention the wrongdoings she uncovered. As an example, in 2003-2004, she found a $20K+ salary overpayment to Mark Pratt, and applied pressure to Susan Swilling and Mark Pratt for the repayment of the the overpayment. This probably did not endear her to Mark Pratt. Another example would be the discovery that Colonial Trust was not a legal depository for Hill County public funds, but Hill County had $16 million ($5 million invested as a back-up stable fund and $11 million floated). Subsequently, Bill Siddons sold his interest of Colonial Trust to Citizens National Bank for $100K. (Bill Siddons also serves on the Board of Directors for Citizens National Bank.) The only asset in Colonial Trust was Hill County funds. Which probably did not endear her to Bill Siddons, nor Judge Davis, who has said repeatedly, the county "owes" Bill Siddons.

Which brings us to current events. Linda is facing two legal battles. Case one is original charges of insurance and social security fraud. There is currently a schedule pretrial hearing for these charges on Tuesday, May 30 in Hill County at 10:00 a.m.   There is a new judge. Bill Johnston (under prior indictment and conviction himself) from Waco is the Special Prosecutor. Amber Bode from Austin is Polley's attorney.

On the second situation (removal of office under the guise of missing records), her attorney filed for a speedy trial under state law around the end of April. Hill County failed to respond in a timely manner. There are a number of experts who have offered reduced or free services in this case. These are experts in courthouse elected procedures, financial, handwriting, and auditing. But even under reduced prices, the costs are staggering.

YOU CAN HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WE CAN CLEAN OUR COURTHOUSE. WHAT OUR COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO DO IS FLAT OUT WRONG. TAKE A STAND.

As citizens of Hill County, in the interest of better government, in the cleaning of our courthouse criminals, it would seem our privilege to help in the defense of this whistleblower. Please mail non-tax deductible gifts and donations, from $5 to $5,000, to

Linda Polley Defense Fund

PO Box

or sent to

Linda Polley Defense Fund

First National Bank of Central Texas

300 E. Elm

Hillsboro, TX 76645