Although political candidates and observers are waiting for the January 15, 2024 campaign finance reports to be released so that they can examine the campaign financing of candidates running for office, there was a campaign finance report due on Thursday that provides an overview of the campaign finances for the three candidates running for the District 77 House seat – Alexsandra Annello, Norma Chavez and Vince Perez. The reports filed by Annello and Perez provide an insight into the campaign finances for the District 77 race for candidates Annello and Perez.
Annello and Perez filed reports while Chavez did not.
The two reports that were due covered campaign funds raised between October 5, 2023 and December 5, 2023.
The first report was due on December 7, 2023. This report covered any campaign contributions raised between October 5, 2023 and November 7. The second report covered campaign contributions raised between November 7 and December 5, 2023.
The reports are Special Legislative Session Reports that report only political contributions raised during any special session of the legislature. In this election cycle, two special sessions were called. The first on October 5 and the second on November 7.
Perez Outraises Annello
Because both sessions were called back-to-back, the campaign contributions raised by the candidates between October 5 and December 5 should have been reported. If no campaign funds were accepted during the special sessions, the reports are not required.
Alexsandra Annello filed two reports. The first was filed on December 7. This report covered campaign funds raised between October 5 and November 7, 2023. Annello reported raising $5,435 in her first report. In her second report, which Annello filed on January 4, she reported accepting $7,662. In total, between October 5, 2023 and December 5, 2023, Annello raised $13,097.
Vince Perez filed one report on January 4. Perez’ report covers the period between November 7 and December 5. In his report, Perez reported accepting contributions totaling $47,050. In addition, Perez reported another $6,440.74 in “signage and materials” in-kind contribution from Jorge Perez. In total, Perez reported $53,490.74 in campaign contributions.
It is important to note that the reports only cover campaign contributions made between October 5, and November 5. Any contributions made outside these dates will be reported in the January 15 reports which are due on January 16.
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The Norma Chavez Report
It is unclear whether Norma Chavez was required to file the reports due on December 7 or January 4. As of this morning, the Texas Ethics Commission website shows that Chavez last filed a report on July 14, 2022.
According to the Texas Ethics Commission, when a Legislative Special Session is convened, “statewide officeholders and candidates for statewide office” are required to “disclose all contributions (monetary, in-kind, pledges, non-bank loans) accepted during the special sessions reporting period.” Unlike the traditional campaign finance reports filed throughout the year, the special session reports only show campaign contributions received during the reporting period.
The reporting period in this case was between October 5, 2023 and December 5, 2023.
The Texas Ethics Commission says that a candidate is not required to file the special session report if the candidate “did not accept contributions” during the reporting period.
Texas law (Sec 254.0391) states that the special session reports are due 30 days after the governor adjourns the Special Session. The Texas Ethics Commission Campaign Finance Guide for Candidates and Office Holders Who File With The Texas Commission, dated January 1, 2017 states on page 18 of the guide that “all statewide candidates and officeholders” are required to file the special session report for a candidate “who receive contributions during the time period covered by the special session report.”
It is unknown whether Norma Chavez accepted campaign contributions between October 5 and December 5, or if she failed to file her required report in a timely fashion.
As Chavez is a candidate for a state-wide race, if she had accepted campaign contributions while the legislature was in special session she would have been required to file the reports filed by Annello and Perez.
El Paso News reached out to an individual close to Chavez asking for comments from her on the reports and if Chavez had raised campaign contributions during the period of the two special sessions. Chavez did not respond to our request for comment through an intermediary before press time. Should Chavez respond at a later date we will update this story.
Disclosure
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Norma Chavez is NOT a candidate for “a state wide race”.