This article was corrected on September 22, 2024 at 06:20 Eastern to correct the office that Cynthia Boyer Trejo is running for. The correct office is District 4.
On December 12, 2023, the city council updated its Ethics Ordinance to increase transparency in campaign funding for municipal elections. Previously, the city council had tasked the interim city manager to make recommendations to the city’s ethics commission. On November 12, 2023, the city council finalized the ordinance. In addition to making updates for city council members to disclose campaign contributions during deliberations involving contributors on issues before them, the updates added that candidates seeking a city council seat or running for mayor, must disclose contributions of $500 or more by adding a notation to the city council agenda in an upcoming meeting. These notations allow members of the public to see who is making contributions to candidates and in what amounts before the required campaign finance reports are due.
The council adopted ordinance number 19581 on December 12, 2023 on a five to two vote. Voting against the measure were Cassandra Hernandez and Joe Molinar. Voting in favor of campaign disclosures through the city agenda were Alexsandra Annello, Chris Canales, Art Fierro, Henry Rivera and Brian Kennedy.
El Paso News reviewed the city council agendas after the July 15 campaign finance reports were filed to see who is making campaign contributions and to which candidates. It is important to note that the contributions noted are those that are $500 or more and that the notations do not include campaign expenses. The full reports are due on October 7.
However, the city council agenda gives us an indication of how much money the candidates are raising. The notations also allow us to glean if campaign contributors are contributing to a slate of candidates.
Going into the October 7 campaign finance reports, city council agenda items show that the mayoral and city council candidates have raised $280,146.01 and loaned themselves $125,225. The largest benefactors of campaign contributions, according to the city council notations, are Renard Johnson with $151,575 in reported contributions and Alejandra Chávez who reported accepting $60,960.80 in campaign contributions for her campaign for the District 1 seat.
Five candidates loaned themselves campaign funds with mayoral candidate Isabel Salcido loaning her campaign $100,000, far outpacing the other city council candidates who loaned their campaigns money. The reported contributions also suggest that contributors may be contributing towards a slate of candidates.
Notable Contributors
There are 13 contributors that made contributions to numerous candidates. Alejandra Chávez, who is seeking the District 1 seat received contributions from eight contributors who also contributed to mayoral candidate Renard Johnson. Edward & Margarita Escudero contributed $2,500 each to Chávez and Johnson. Frederick Francis made a $2,500 contribution to Johnson and a $5,000 contribution to Chávez. Adam Frank contributed $8,600 to Johnson and $2,500 to Chávez. Kathy Palacios made a contribution of $3,000 to Johnson and another $4,100 to Chávez. Gary and Cecilia Porras contributed $2,500 each to Chávez and Johnson. Rosa Santana also made $1,000 contributions each to Chávez and Johnson. Doug Schwartz contributed $2,500 each to Chávez and Johnson, and Woody Hunt also contributed $2,500 each to Chávez and Johnson.
The contributions to Chávez and Johnson suggest that the contributors believe that Alejandra Chávez and Renard Johnson are running on similar platforms or even as a slate of candidates for the city council.
One contributor, Eduardo Fernandez, contributed $2,500 each to Renard Johnson and Isabel Salcido suggesting that Fernandez may be hedging his bet on who wins the mayorship on November 5.
Two former city representatives, Steve Ortega and Ann Morgan Lilly are also contributing to municipal candidates. Ortega gave $1,000 to Cynthia Boyer Trejo, who is running for District 4 and another $1,000 to Chávez who is looking to win the District 1 seat. Ortega also contributed $1,000 to Alan Serna in the District 7 race.
Ann Morgan Lilly contributed $1,000 to Renard Johnson, $1,461.38 to Cynthia Boyer Trejo and another $2,610.88 to Alejandra Chávez.
Both Ortega and Lilly were staunch supporters of the demolition of the old city hall to make way for the Chihuahuas ballpark. The catalyst for the demolition of the old city hall, former city manager Joyce Wilson contributed $1,623.75 to Cynthia Boyer Trejo.
Contributions By Open Seats
Mayor
For the mayoral seat, since the last campaign finance report filed on July 15, $207,100 have been raised by four of the candidates running for that seat.
Cassandra Hernandez
In her corrected campaign finance report filed on July 16, Hernandez reported having $105,888.08 in campaign funds. According to the city council agenda for July 16, Hernandez reported a $1,000 from Bettina Olivares’ campaign. In the July 30 city council agenda, Hernandez reported receiving $45,025 in campaign contributions from 13 individuals. The contributors were Raymond Alvarado ($4,000), Rosa Alvarado ($4,000), Guillermina Chavez ($5,000), Ricardo Chavez ($2,500), Alonso Hernandez ($1,000), Mark Hernandez ($2,500), Raquel Hernandez ($5,000), Stephen Hernandez ($5,000), Sylvia Hernandez ($2,500), Zenia Hernandez ($5,000), Lorenza Lujan ($25), Ryan Kieffe ($3,500), and Christina Stover ($5,000).
At this point it is unclear if the $25 contribution from Lorenza Lujan is accurate or a typographical error because the ordinance calls for reporting only contributions above $499.
Renard Johnson
In August 13 city council agenda, Johnson has four agenda items reporting campaign contributions. In the first item, Johnson reported 19 contributions totaling $17,500. The contributors were Ogechika Alozie ($500), Mark Austin ($1,000), Alvarado Bustillos ($1,250), Steven Buraczyk ($500), Hector Delgado ($1,000), Vince Carson ($500), Jack Chapman ($500), Andrew Gallardo ($500), Harris Hatfield ($500), Daniel Kasuga ($500), Rebecca & Alan Krasne ($500), Rick Lange ($500), Nancy Laster ($500), Flor “Flower” Loya ($1,000), Dee Margo ($1,000), Wayne Martin ($5,000), Tersa Niño ($500), Javier “Jay” Reyes ($2,500), and F. James Volk ($1,250).
In the second agenda item for the August 13 city council agenda, Johnson noted seven additional campaign contributions totaling $6,000. The contributors were Ogechika Alozie ($500), Laura Karam ($1,000), Ann Morgan Lilly ($500), LJ & Associations, LLC ($500, note: it is likely LJ & Associates Legal, LLC), Kathy Palacios ($500), J.K. Robinson ($2,500) and Steven Spurgin ($500).
The third notation lists 16 contributors. They were Ogechika Alozie ($500), Christian Archer ($1,000), Adam Frank ($8,600), Chris Hollins Campaign ($500), Lukin T. Gilliland, Jr. ($500), Alvin Johnson ($6,000-his father), Jay Kleberg ($500), Manny Pelaez ($500), David Rascon ($1,000), JW & Lory Rogers ($1,000), Rosa Santana ($1,000), Nicole Velesiotis ($500), Welcome Wilson, Jr. ($1,000), Scott Walker ($500) and Andrea Weckstein ($500). The total was $23,600 in the third notation.
In the fourth notation, Johnson listed $18,750 in contributions from 17 contributors. The contributors were Ogechika Alozie ($500), Jack Chapman ($750), Roland Correa ($2,000), Eduardo Fernandez ($2,500), Jacob Fraire ($500), IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund ($1,500), Rogelio Lopez ($1,000), Donald Luciano ($500), Gina Martinez ($500), Ricardo Mora ($1,250), Cindy Osborn ($1,250), Debra & Javier “Jay” Reyes ($2,500), Frank X. Spencer ($1,000), Jean Vanderpool ($1,000), Stephen Vargas ($1,000), Omar Veliz ($500) and Shari Schwartz ($500).
In the August 27 city council agenda, Johnson reported $47,475 in campaign contributions, including a significant contribution from Preston Brown. The contributors were Preston Brown ($25,000), William Caparis ($1,000), Julio Chiu ($2,000), Teresita Corral ($1,000), Paul Cross ($500), Hector Delgado ($500), Robert Foster ($2,500), Erika Gonzalez ($500), Jennifer Horsley ($500), Woody & Gale Hunt ($2,500), Josh & Tita Hunt ($2,500), Ruben Guerra ($1,000), Ann Morgan Lilly ($500), Keith Mahar ($1,000), Suleiman Masoud ($500), Gary Nanez ($500), Douglas Schwartz ($2,500), Scott Hulse PAC ($1,000), Severo Hughston LLC ($975), James Valenzuela ($500) and Jose Luis Villareal ($500).
Renard Johnson reported an additional $28,750 in campaign contributions in the September 10 city council agenda. The contributors were Ogechika Alozie ($500), Charles Amato ($2,500), Ed Anderson ($2,500), Edward & Margarita Escudero ($2,500), Hector Flores ($2,500), Robert Foster ($2,500), Frederick Francis ($2,500), Ruben & Susan Guerra ($2,500), Prescilla Hernandez ($500), Alvin Johnson ($2,500), Micheal Mikes ($750), Raymond & Kathy Palacios ($2,500), Victor Polous ($1,250), Gary & Cecilia Porras ($2,500) and Raul Rogelio & Bernice Solis ($750).
For the next city council agenda scheduled for Tuesday, Johnson is reporting another $9,500 in campaign contributions from seven contributors. The contributors are Aliana Apodaca ($500), Joseph Derobbio ($2,500), William Helm ($500), IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund ($2,500), Brad Kuykendall ($2,500), Anthony Mullen ($1,000) and John Rindt ($500).
Brian Kennedy
In the August 13 city council agenda, Kennedy 11 campaign contributions. The contributors were Christina Acosta ($500), Karla Alba ($500), Blake Barrow ($1,000), Keli & Calvin Griffin ($500), Jose & Lilia Limon ($500), Richard Zooel Sanchez Muñoz ($500), John Thomas & Mary Thompson ($500) and William Christopher Saab ($1,000). Kennedy reported accepting $5,000 in campaign contributions in this city council notation.
Isabel Salcido
In the September 10 city council agenda, Salcido reported loaning her campaign $100,000 and two campaign contributions for $4,500, one from Eduardo Fernandez ($2,500) and a second from Demetrio Jimenez ($2,000).
In the city council seats, Alexandra Chávez, who is seeking the District 1 far outraced the other city council candidates. The following are the city council candidates that filed notations to the city council agendas through Tuesday of next week.
Dear reader, I hope you appreciate this article. Before reading more, I ask that you consider my work and make a small donation to help keep this publication open for everyone. El Paso lacks news diversity. I offer 20+ years of historical knowledge about El Paso’s politics and public policy. Media diversity matters. Make a small donation today to help keep my work going for another 20+ years. Thank you.
District 1
Sam Armijo
In the August 27 city council agenda, Armijo reported loaning his campaign $5,000.
Alejandra Chávez
In the August 13 city council agenda, Chávez reported $5,000 in campaign contributions and an in-kind contribution from Ann Morgan-Lilly of $811.88. The contributors, according to the agenda, were Richard Aguilar ($2,000), Margarita Escudero ($1,000), Miguel Fernandez ($1,000) and Kelly Tomblin ($1,000).
In the August 27 city council agenda in two agenda notations, Chávez reported another $7,500 in campaign contributions. The contributors were Richard & Janet Bonner ($1,000), Silvia Castillo ($500), Alfonso Chavez ($500), Pedro Chavez ($500), Edward Houghton ($1,000), Joseph Moody ($500), Oscar Narvaez ($500), Raymond Palacios ($1,500), Audrey Ponzio ($1,000) and Juan Carlos Rolon ($500).
In the second notation, Chávez added another $8,000 in campaign contributions. The contributors in this notation were Amanda Daniels ($500), John Dupree ($500), Frederick Francis ($2,500), Lane Gaddy ($1,000), Juan Carlos Godinez ($500), German Hernandez ($500), Steve Ortega ($1,000), Ebetual Pallares ($500), Thomas Vick ($500), and an in-kind contribution from West Texas Chophouse LLC ($500).
In the September 10 city council agenda, Chávez reported accepting $39,649 in campaign contributions from 25 contributors. They were Blake Anderson ($2,500), Concepcion Alva ($500), Benjamin Arriola ($2,500), Jim Cardwell ($2,500), Edward Escudero ($1,500), Adam Frank ($2,500), Ginger Francis ($2,500), Dean Hester ($2,500), Bradley Hughes ($500), Jeffrey Hughes ($500), Woody Hunt ($2,500), Javier Lucatero ($1,000), Ronnie Lowenfield ($1,000), Raul Ordaz ($500), Raymond Palacios ($2,600), Cecilia Porras ($2,500), Jerry Rubin ($3,000), Douglas Schwartz ($2,500), William Sanders ($1,000), Rosa Santana ($1,000), Linda Troncoso ($1,000), Robert Urea ($750), Sonica Westbrook ($500) and an in-kind contribution from Ann Morgan Lilly for $1,299 plus a $500 campaign contribution.
District 2
Josh Acevedo
In the July 30 city council agenda, Acevedo reported a $1,000 campaign contribution from Daniel Anchondo. In the August 13 city council agenda, Acevedo reported $750 in two campaign contributions from Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez for $250 and $500 from Raaheela Ahmed.
In the September 10 city council agenda, Acevedo reported $1,000 in two campaign contributions, one from John Panahi ($500) and a second one from Sara Priddy ($500).
Isabel Ceballos Otten
In Tuesday’s city council agenda, Ceballos is reporting a campaign contribution of $500 from Javier Sanchez and a loan to her campaign for $3,225.
District 3
Deanna Maldonado-Rocha
On the upcoming Tuesday city council agenda, Deanna Maldonado-Rocha is reporting a $12,000 loan to her campaign and a $100 contribution from Valerie Hernandez for $100.
District 4
Joe Molinar
In the July 16 city council agenda, Molinar reported a $1,000 campaign contribution from Richard Teschner.
In the city council agenda for next Tuesday, Molina is reporting a $1,500 campaign contribution from Stanley Jobe as well as another $1,500 contribution from Thomas Georges.
Cynthia Boyer Trejo
In the July 30 city council agenda, Trejo reported a $1,000 campaign contrition from Steve Ortega. In the August 27 city council agenda, Trejo reported two in-kind contributions totaling $3,085.13. One in-kind contribution was from Joyce Wilson for $1,623.75 and a second $1,461.38 in-kind contributions from Ann Morgan Lilly.
District 5
Amanda Cunningham
In next Tuesday’s city council agenda, Cunnigham is reporting $600 in campaign contributions, one from Shavona Floyd for $100 and another from Ryan Woodcraft for $500.00.
Ivan Niño
In Tuesday’s city council agenda, Niño is reporting loaning his campaign $5,000.
District 7
Chris Hernandez
In Tuesday’s city council agenda, Hernandez is reporting a $500 campaign contribution from David Saucedo.
Lily Limón
In the September 10 city council agenda, Limón reported three campaign contributions for $5,500. The contributors were Stanely Jobe ($2,500), Ascención Mena ($500) and Lawrence A. Romero ($2,500).
Alan Serna
In the July 16 city council agenda, Serna reported receiving a $1,000 campaign contribution from Steve Ortega.
Expenditures And Contributions
The city council agenda only provides a glimpse of the campaign funding for the municipal elections. The report that provides details such as expenditures and total contributions is due on October 7.
For now, we know that the biggest contributions are going towards Renard Johnson in the mayoral race and to Alejandra Chávez for the District 1 race. We also can glean that some regular contributors appear to be making contributions towards a change in the city council’s make up by contributing to campaigns opposed to the public policy vision set by the current city council majority.
The contributions also show that city council seats are now more expensive to complete in with campaign expenses expected to go over $15,000 per city council seat.
Stay with El Paso News for the latest campaign finances when the reports are released on October 7.