El Paso City Council Election Campaign Funding Over $1 Million By The Numbers

Correction: This article was corrected on November 8, 2024 to correct an error in the campaign contribution of $1,000 to Alan Serna. The contributor was Steve Ortega and not Steve Fox. The totals have been corrected for both Fox and Ortega.

Early voting ended on Friday for Tomorrow’s election. One hundred and eighty-two thousand and five hundred and forty-five people cast a ballot during the early voting period. This represents about 35% of the registered voters. Election Day is tomorrow. It is likely that around 200,000 ballots will be cast once the last ballot is counted.

El Paso News reviewed the campaign finance reports for the candidates running for the open city council seats. Our analysis broke down the major campaign contributors, the political action committees (PACs) making contributions this election cycle and the known political consultants providing campaign consulting services to candidates.

First, we break down contributions by mayor and district races. We then list the totals for notable campaign contributors, including the PACs, and then we list who the political consultants are and how much they were paid in this election cycle.

This is what we found.

Mayoral Candidates

The mayoral candidates reported raising $693,206.59 and spending $916,439.02.

Cassandra Hernandez

According to Cassandra Hernandez’s campaign finance report covering transactions through June 2024, Hernandez reported spending $20,493.92 towards her mayoral campaign and accepted $72,338.38 in campaign contributions. In total, Hernandez received $64,992.84 in campaign contributions for her mayoral campaign. She is carrying $66,660 in campaign loans through October 26.

Through the last campaign report, Hernandez has spent $70,742.18 on her campaign.

Hernandez campaign contributions did not include the people generally contributing to El Paso campaigns, except for Steve Ortega who gave her campaign a $2,500 contribution on May 19, 2024.

Renard Johnson

Renard Johnson’s June 30 report shows him accepting $297,920.50 in campaign contributions. Johnson also reported spending $187,693.96 for his mayoral race. In total, Johnson has received $881,827.84 in campaign contributions and has reported spending $598,798.16.

Additionally, the Protect and Serve Texas PAC has spent or obligated $54,114.02 to support Johnsons’ campaign. The PAC’s expenses raise Johnson’s campaign expenses to $652,912.18. Although PACs are not allowed to coordinate with the candidate, in this case the PAC used the same consultants used by the Renard Campaign and three individuals who gave campaign contributions to the PAC also gave to Johnson’s campaign.

The three individuals are Miguel Fernandez who contributed $25,000 to the PAC, Ted Hughton gave $10,000 to the PAC and Steve Ortega contributed $5,000 to the PAC. Two of the three also contributed directly to Johnson’s campaign. Fernandez contributed $7,500 to him and Ted Houghton contributed $5,500.

Other significant contributors to Johnson include Julio Chiu for $17,500, Edward Escudero for $16,500, Adam Frank for $11,100, Woody Hunt for $14,166.20 and Doug Schwartz for $7,500. Other notable contributors include Joyce Wilson for $950, Eliot Shapleigh for $1,000, William Sanders for $3,250 and Amy O’Rourke for $2,000.

On January 1, 2024, Renard Johnson gave his campaign a contribution of $15,000 and another $10,000 on February 1. By making the two payments as contributions, instead of a campaign loan, Renard Johnson is not able to reimburse himself by campaign contributions made by others on his behalf. In effect, Johnson gave his campaign $25,000 of his personal funds.

Brian Kennedy

The only campaign expenditure reported by Brian Kennedy before July was an expense of $4,300 for “viability research.” It is likely that Kennedy was polling to see his viability to run for mayor. According to the latest financial information, Kennedy has spent $375,939.48 on his mayoral campaign and has received $42,027.30 in campaign contributions. Kennedy has also loaned his campaign $181,000.

Kennedy has only one notable contributor. Stanely Jobe. Jobe was convicted of bank fraud in 1994 and pardoned by Bill Clinton in 2001. Jobe was heavily criticized in 2001 by Raymond Caballero and environmentalists. Environmentalists wanted Jobe’s rock quarry closed.

Isabel Salcido

Isabel Salcido reported spending $79,147.08 and receiving $43,266.95 in campaign contributions. Salcido reported an outstanding loan of $100,000.

Salcido did not receive any campaign contributions from the contributors who normally contribute large amounts in El Paso elections.

District 1 Candidates

There are four candidates in the District 1 race that have filed campaign finance reports. The candidates have reported raising $128,619.66 and spending $111,286.75.

Sam Armijo

Sam Armijo has reported receiving $560 and spending $3,793.74 in his campaign.

Alejandra Chávez

Alejandra Chávez has reported receiving $98,967.31 in campaign contributions and spending $75,499.26 on her campaign.

Among her expenses include a payment to Peter Svarzbein of $3,600 for campaign consulting.

Her notable contributors include Richard Aguilar for $2,000. Adam Frank, Francis Frederick, Josh Hunt, Woody Hunt and Doug Schwartz each contributed $2,500. Ann Morgan-Lilly contributed $4,007.31 and Joyce Wilson contributed $150.

Tom Handy

Tom Handy has reported receiving $1,740 and spending $12,000, including an expensive television commercial.

Monica Reyes

In her campaign finance reports, Monica Reyes has reported spending $19,993.50 and receiving $27,352.35 in campaign contributions. Reyes also reported $33,500 in loans to her campaign.

Among Reyes’ notable contributors include Stanley Jobe for $1,000 and Fred Loya contributed $5,000.

District 2 Candidates

In the race for the District 2 seat, incumbent Josh Acevedo is being challenged by Isabel Ceballos Otten. The candidates reported raising $48,605.66, the majority by Acevedo and spending $49,901.42.

Josh Acevedo

Josh Acevedo has reported $40,400 in campaign contributions and campaign expenditures of $34,805.55. Five PACs contributed $7,700, which is about 20% of his contributions.

Among Acevedo’s notable contributors include Cesar Blanco ($1,000), Edward Escudero ($1,500), and Stanley Jobe ($1,000). Woody Hunt contributed $5,000 and Steve Ortega contributed $1,000 to Acevedo’s campaign.

Isabel Ceballos Otten

Isabel Ceballos reported $8,205 in campaign contributions and spent $15,095.87 in campaign expenses. She loaned her campaign $11,725.

District 3 Candidates

In District 3, three candidates raised contributions and spent funds on their campaigns. They are Fabiola Arellano, Kenneth Bell and Deanna Maldonado-Rocha. In total, the candidates reported raising $41,220 and spending $36,107.90.

Fabiola Arellano

Fabiola Arellano reported $5,045 in campaign contributions and $6,745.35 in campaign expenses. She has also reported a $1,000 loan to her campaign.

Kenneth Bell

Kenneth Bell reported $3,500 in campaign contributions and $6,575.33 in campaign expenses. Among his notable contributors are Verónica Carbajal with $700, Ana Reza with $520 and Kathleen Staudt with $400.

Deanna Maldonado-Rocha

Deanna Maldonado-Rocha reported $1,150 in campaign contributions on June 30. In total, Maldonado-Rocha has reported $33,825 in campaign contributions and spending $22,787.22. Notable contributors include Frederick Francis, Steve Fox, Woody Hunt and Kirk Robinson for $2,500 each.

District 4 Candidates

There are three candidates challenging the incumbent, Joe Molinar for the District 4 seat. The are Dorothy “Sissy” Byrd, Wesley Lawrence and Cynthia Boyer Trejo. They reported raising $40,233.13 and spending $33,660.25.

Dorothy “Sissy” Byrd

Dorothy Byrd has reported $125 in campaign contributions and spent $600.

Wesley Lawrence

Wesley Lawrence reported receiving $9,132.95 in campaign contributions and spending $3,558.44 on campaign expenses. Lawrence reported a $500 campaign contribution from the Texas Blue Bonnet PAC. The PAC opposes school vouchers. Lawrence’s notable campaign contribution was $200 from Kathleen Staudt.

Joe Molinar

In his campaign finance report covering transactions through June 2024, Joe Molinar reported accepting $20,171.13 in campaign contributions. On February 28, 2023, Molinar was issued a letter of admonition by the city council as the result of “a complaint of harassment.” The letter of admonition was issued to Molinar on a vote of five to two with Henry Rivera and Isabel Salcido voting against the letter of admonition. Rivera had wanted the city council to vote on a letter of reprimand instead. A reprimand is more severe than a letter of admonition. Two days before, the city council had issued a letter of reprimand to Henry Rivera for allowing a non-city employee to supervise and direct the day-to-day duties of a city employee. It had been alleged that Dora Oaxaca, Rivera’s wife had been harassing a city employee.

According to Molinar’s June 2024 report, JP Bryant, a Houston businessman made a $2,500 contribution to Molinar. Other large campaign contributions were made to Molinar by Randall Bowling for $1,000, Robert Bowling for $1,000, Brian Kennedy for $1,000, Oscar Leeser for $1,000 and Richard Teschner for $3,000 in three contributions. Kennedy had seconded the motion and voted in favor of issuing the letter of reprimand against Molinar in February. Stanley Jobe also contributed $1,500 to Molinar.

By June 30, 2024, Molinar had spent $8,450.51 in campaign materials for his November 5 re-election campaign.

In total Molinar has reported spending $17,636.64 and $8,790 in campaign contributions.

Cynthia Boyer Trejo

Cynthia Boyer Trejo has reported $22,185.18 in campaign contributions, far outpacing the incumbent Molinar. Trejo has spent $10,516 on her campaign. Her largest contributor is Woody Hunt with $5,482.43. Steve Ortega contributed $1,000 and Joyce Wilson another $1,623.75.

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District 5 Candidates

There are three candidates who reported raising campaign funds and expenses for their campaigns. They are Amanda Cunningham, Ivan Niño and Felix J. Muñoz. In the District 5 race, $25,358 has been raised and $21,456.62 has been spent.

Amanda Cunningham

Amanda Cunnigham reported $1,153 in campaign contributions and spending $1,373 in campaign expenses.

Ivan Niño

Ivan Niño reported raising $23,645 and spending $15,083.62. Niño also reported a $5,000 loan to his campaign. Three PACs contributed $6,200 to his campaign. The Texas Association of Realtors Political Action Committee (TREPAC) led with $5,000. TREPAC was followed by the El Paso Municipal Officers’ Association with $1,000 and the El Paso’s Sheriff’s Association contributed $200.

Niño’s two largest contributors were Francis Frederick and Woody Hunt with $2,500 each. Steve Fox, Miguel Fernandez, Stanley Jobe and Jerry Rubin each contributed $1,000.

Felix J. Muñoz

Felix Muñoz reported $560 in campaign contributions and spending $6,982. He loaned or spent $6,422 from his own money on his campaign.

District 7 Candidates

There are four candidates who have raised funds for the District 7 city council seat. They are Fabiola Campos Lopez, Chris Hernandez, Lily Limón and Alan Serna. They have reported spending $71,605.85 and raising $62,105.86.

Chris Hernandez

Chris Hernandez reported raising $14,010 and spending $13,449.94 on his campaign. Five PACs contributed to Hernandez’s campaign. They are the El Paso Association of Contractors PAC for $500. The El Paso Association of Firefighters PAC and the El Paso Municipal Officers’ Association contributed $1,000 each. The El Paso Sheriff’s Association contributed $200 to his campaign. The largest PAC contribution to Hernandez was $5,000 from the Texas Association of Realtors Political Action. The PAC contributions to Hernandez represent 55% of his contributions.

Fabiola Campos Lopez

Fabiola Campos Lopez reported $12,172.58 in campaign contributions and spent $7,415.59 on her campaign. The six largest campaign contributions to her were from Francis Frederick and Josh Hunt for $2,500 each. Frederick and Hunt were followed by Ed Escudero, Steve Fox and Edward Houghton each contributed $1,000 to Campos Lopez. These contributions represent 66% of her campaign contributions.

Lily Limón

According to the July 15 campaign finance report filed by Lily Limón covering her campaign’s finances through June 30, she accepted $10,865.00 in campaign contributions and spent $3,828.03. In total, Limón has spent $42,552.35. Limón reported $45,330.

Among her notable contributors is Oscar Leeser for $5,000. There were also campaign contributions from Randall Bowling and Robert Bowling for $1,000 each and $3,000 from Stanley Jobe. Larry Medina, who was convicted of public corruption as part of the Poisoned Pawns public corruption scandal, contributed $500. Kathleen Staudt contributed $200 and Beatriz Vera made a $25 contribution to Limón

Alan Serna

In his report listing campaign finances through June 30, Alan Serna reported $1,000 in campaign contributions and $2,048 in expenses. In total, Serna has reported spending $14,064 on his campaign. Serna reported raising $1,458.28 in campaign contributions.

Serna’s largest campaign contribution was $1,000 from Steve Ortega.

Select Campaign Contributors For This Election Cycle

Several El Pasoans regularly make large campaign contributions to city council candidates. The following is a select list and the amounts they contributed to several city council races. We have also included a list of campaign contributions from other notable contributors.

1. Richard Aguilar $5,750
2. Jim Cardwell $7,000
3. Julio Chiu $17,500
4. Edward Escudero $23,800
5. Miguel Fernandez $12,000 (+$25,000 to the Protect and Serve PAC)
6. Adam Frank $16,600
7. Francis Frederick $17,500
8. Steve Fox $10,500
9. Lane Gaddy $5,000
10. Edward Houghton $12,000 (+$10,000 to the Protect and Serve PAC)
11. Josh Hunt $8,250
12. Woody Hunt $34,648.63
13. Stanley Jobe $11,500
14. Fred Loya $5,000
15. Steve Ortega $7,500 (+$5,000 to the Protect and Serve PAC)
16. Raymond Palacios $17,250
17. Gary Porras $7,000
18. Kirk Robinson $13,500
19. Douglas Schwartz $11,000

Other notable campaign contributions include $2,000 from Cesar Blanco. Blanco contributed $1,000 each to Josh Acevedo and Renard Johnson. Verónica Carbajal made $900 in contributions. Ann Morgan-Lilly contributed $4,507.31 to Chávez and Johnson. Joyce Wilson contributed $2,723.75 and Eliot Shapleigh contributed $1,000.

PAC Monies

As we reported, an out-of-city PAC has paid for mailers targeting Brian Kennedy in the mayoral race. Several other PACs have contributed to several candidates in this election cycle.

The following PACs made contributions to several campaigns.

1. El Paso Association of Firefighters PAC $5,500
2. El Paso Sheriff’s Officers Association $1,000
3. El Paso Association of Contractors PAC $2,000
4. El Paso Municipal Officers’ Association $6,000
5. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $4,000
6. Plumbers & Steamfitters United Association 412 $1,500
7. ScottHulse PAC $3,000
8. Texas Association of Realtors Political Action Committee (TREPAC) $30,000
9. Texas Blue Bonnet PAC $500

The largest PAC contribution is around $150,231 from The Protect and Serve PAC targeting Brian Kennedy and supporting Renard Johnson.

The Campaign Consultants

We identified nine political campaign consultants providing branding, data services and consulting to various campaigns in this election cycle. Not including Austin-based Murphy, Nasica and Associates, which worked exclusively for the Renard Johnson Campaign, the city council candidates spent $61,879.21 on consultants, which in some cases included printing and other hard costs.

The 11 consultants we identified are listed in order of amounts paid.

1. Politico Campaigns $22,741.31 (note, Cognent, owned by the author, is the parent company of Politico Campaigns.)
2. Cabe Tejeda $14,840
3. Sun Circle Strategic Group $4,693.50
4. Paul de la Peña $4,450.00
5. Ghost Light Creative $4,406.61
6. In Focus Campaigns $4,300 (voter contact strategy)
7. El Camino 18, owned by Peter Svarzbein $3,600
8. Jeremy Jordan $2,500 (in-kind contribution)
9. Chris Hernandez $344.79

The Johnson Campaign paid Murphy Nasica $276,889.40.

The Democratic Party NGP-VAN

El Paso candidates tend to use the Democratic Party NGP VAN platform for voter targeting and analysis. The Democratic Party has limited access to the platform, allowing only Democrats they authorize to use it. In this election cycle, the candidates spent $6,375.50 on the platform, not including the fees charged by data analysts who interpret the data for some of the candidates.

We previously reported that data analysis suggested that party chair Michael Apodaca may have manipulated NGP VAN data to favor Josh Acevedo over Verónica Carbajal earlier this year. Acevedo’s opponent was denied access to the NGP VAN platform in this election.

Although El Paso municipal elections are non-partisan, the El Paso Democratic Party limits access to the NGP VAN platform to candidates they do not perceive to be Democrats.

Tomorrow is Election Day. Stay with El Paso News for the latest developments.