Election bids don't come cheap

Candidates for two hotly contested seats on the City Commission spent slightly upwards of $87,000 combined in the city regular and run-off elections.

From structured campaigns to grassroots efforts, the election bids didn't come cheap.

For some, money just wasn't enough.

That was the case for District 3 incumbent Carlos A. Cisneros, who outspent his challenger with the $25,092 in contributions that he amassed and put on the line for the May 9 race and June 6 run-off election combined.

His challenger, Commissioner-elect Melissa Zamora, spent considerably less at $10,948 on her two races.

At the end, Zamora took the runoff over Cisneros with nearly 58 percent of the vote.

Zamora's largest contributor was the Brownsville Union Coalition (BUC) with a $1,500 donation. Nick Serafy also backed Zamora as did Evaristo Cardenas, and Michael Cowen. Attorney Ernesto Gamez backed her with a $500 in-kind contribution through telephone banking.

Zamora also had Leticia Carmona working the telephone banks throughout her campaign and M-5 Designs of Harlingen handled campaign signs.

Insofar as Cisneros' campaign, the Millar Hollander firm handled most of his advertising, while Dan Rivera and Rodrigo Moreno provided consultation.

Former Mayor Eddie Treviño Jr. backed Cisneros as did state Rep. Rene Oliveira and his law firm, the Brownsville Police Officers Association and the tax collection firm of Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson. Dr. Madhavan Pisharodi was his largest donor with $2,000.

At-Large B candidate Dr. Rose M. Z. Gowen got the most votes with 55.18 percent and she also raised the most money for both the May and June elections with $37,946 from mostly the medical and legal community. Her campaign treasurer was attorney Tony Martinez.

Former Mayor Eddie Treviño's law firm and Oliveira's law firm also supported Gowen with donations. The Linebarger law firm also donated to Gowen's campaign as did former city Commissioner Sally Miniel Arroyo.

Gowen also was backed by the Brownsville Leadership Alliance Political Action Committee with a $2,250 donation. Contributors to the PAC include Martinez, AGS Properties Limited of Brownsville, Gregg McCumber, William Conner of Rancho Viejo and Brownsville, Joe LaMantia of McAllen and Richard Schell of McAllen. The PAC's treasurer is Oscar D. Garcia of Brownsville, state public records show.

Allied Advertising of San Antonio, Phil Chairez of McAllen, Johnston Campaigns of Houston and Breeden/McCumber of Brownsville handled the advertising. Mike Carrera and Sylvia Perez of Brownsville provided consulting work and voter canvassing.

The Esparza & Garza law firm and Connor backed both Gowen and Cisneros.

Ayala, who garnered nearly 45 percent of the vote, spent $15,718 on his races in May and June.

Attorney Ernesto Gamez supported Ayala with a $1,000 donation. Ayala also had the support of Cameron County Pct. 1 Commissioner Sophia Benavides and former city Public Works Director David Ivory. The Brownsville Firefighters Association backed Ayala with a $1,500 donation. The Brownsville Police Officers Association and Pisharodi also backed Ayala.

Leticia Carmona also conducted telephone banking for Ayala.

Ayala went to J. A. Sports & Printing in Brownsville for his campaign materials.

eperez-trevino@brownsvilleherald.com