Race for campaign cash is on

The date for the Democratic and Republican primaries is not yet known, but the race for the campaign dollar among candidates that have filed to run for the U.S. Congress in Texas District 27 has been on for months.

The verdict is still out on the boundaries of District 27, but it seems clear it will cover Cameron County. Redrawing district lines in light of the latest Census has not yet been completed.

Democratic candidates that filed during the first candidate registration period, in order of filing, are Rose Meza Harrison of Corpus Christi; Ramiro Garza Jr., who is transitioning to his home at South Padre Island; and Denise Saenz Blanchard, Anthony Troiani and Armando Villalobos, all of Brownsville.

For the Republican Party, incumbent R. Blake Farenthold of Corpus Christi and Don Al Middlebrook of Louise have filed.

There will be a second registration period for candidates, but the dates are not yet known.

The lineup of candidates could change when final district maps are in place.

The uncertainty, however, hasn’t stopped fundraising efforts. Candidates have recently filed reports of contributions and expenditures with the Federal Election Commission.

Meza Harrison, who chairs the Nueces County Democratic Party and is an assistant attorney for Nueces County, reported raising $15,168 from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2011. She listed expenditures totaling $9,319 for this period. A major portion of the contributions was earmarked through ActBlue, a political action committee that supports Democratic candidates and committees. Meza Harrison’s campaign treasurer is George Clower.

Garza, a former manager of the city of Edinburg and former executive director of the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, reported receiving $20,543 in contributions from Dec. 10 through Dec. 31, 2011; spending $3,006 during the same period; and receiving a loan of $50,000 from his personal funds to the campaign. He has received contributions from throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Garza’s campaign treasurer is Melanie Moore Bennett.

Saenz Blanchard, a consultant, who retired after 20 years of government service as chief of staff of former U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, reported $14,215 in campaign contributions from Dec. 14 through Dec. 31, 2011, and expenditures of $568. Some contributions to her campaign also have been earmarked through ActBlue. Saenz Blanchard’s campaign treasurer is Julian Peña.

Troiani, a former prosecutor with the Cameron County district attorney’s office, a former Brownsville city commissioner and an attorney in private practice, reported contributions of $6,600 from May 7 through Dec. 31, 2011; expenditures of $13,903; and the injection of personal funds totaling $11,403. Troiani’s campaign treasurer is Lourdes Costilla.

Villalobos is Cameron County’s district attorney and formerly served as an assistant district attorney and attorney in private practice. He reported $133,929 in contributions from April 23, through Dec. 31, 2011, and expenditures of 117,027. His campaign treasurer is Trey Martinez.

Farenthold, an attorney, former radio disk jockey and computer and web design consultant, has been raising significant campaign money. He reported $130,605 in contributions and $106,381 in expenditures from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2011. However, so far, for the election cycle through Dec. 31, 2011, he reported contributions of $718,770 and expenses of $423,728. He also noted that his committee has $311,213 in debts and obligations. Lobbyists and political action committees figure prominently among his contributors. Farenthold’s campaign treasurer is Ward McCampbell.

Middlebrook is a builder and the owner of Middlebrook Construction. The Herald was unable to locate a campaign report for him, and he said Friday he would be contacting his campaign treasurer. He also indicated that he intends to run for a seat farther north of Cameron County, as he, like everyone else, waits for the final district maps.