Campaign finance reports show that all but one candidate for Bexar County Judge and District Attorney have raised and spent thousands of dollars thus far.
Former district court judge Peter Sakai was the top fundraiser in the county judge race, raising $238,050, according to the latest report, which includes campaign donations and expenses from July 1 through Dec. 31. The Democrat’s campaign has spent $33,127 and reported $225,996 cash on hand as of Dec. 31. Sakai also loaned his campaign $10,000
Sakai’s campaign haul includes $100,000 from Kym Rapier Verette and $10,000 from Harvey Najim, both prominent local philanthropists.
Democrat Ivalis Meza Gonzalez and former chief of staff to Mayor Ron Nirenberg raised $160,410, including $57,170 in-kind non-monetary donations, and loaned her campaign $75,000. The campaign spent $11,985 and reported $166,254 on hand.
Notable donations to Meza Gonzalez’s campaign include $30,000 from John Archer, a consultant in New Braunfels, and $1,000 from former State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, who recently endorsed Meza Gonzalez and provided her with $2,570 in in-kind consulting services.
State Rep. Ina Minjarez raised $80,122 and spent $85,896, but her campaign balance stood at $109,095.
Former Precinct 3 Commissioner Trish DeBerry, on the Republican side of the judge’s race, vastly outraised and outspent fellow Republican Nathan Buchanan.
DeBerry raised $115,147, spent $91,101, and had a balance of $76,562. Her largest contribution was $30,000 from developer Darren Casey.
Buchanan raised $600, spent $1,850, and had a balance of $22. His campaign loan totals $1,250.
As of Thursday afternoon, a campaign finance report for the fourth Democratic candidate for judge, Gerard Ponce, was not available on the Bexar County Elections Department’s website.
The Democrats and Republicans in the race for county judge will first square off against each other in the March 1 primary; early voting begins Feb. 14.
The unopposed Democrat and incumbent District Attorney Joe Gonzales far outraised his potential Republican opponents with $62,630 in reported campaign contributions. Gonzales’ campaign spent $37,169 and reported $264,397 on hand.
Former prosecutor Meredith Chacon and lawyer Marc LaHood, the brother of former district attorney Nico LaHood, are vying for Republican votes on March 1.
Chacon raised $32,467, including $17,000 in non-monetary donations, and spent $12,601. She had $2,865 on hand.
LaHood raised $20,900, spent $11,250, and had $34,650. He loaned his campaign $25,000.
The deadline to register to vote is Jan. 31, while the deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is Feb. 18.
The midterm election primary will also determine party nominees for governor, lieutenant governor and other statewide offices.
There will be no March primary for the Precinct 3 seat on the Bexar County Commissioners Court; the local Democratic and Republican parties will choose who will be on the ballot for the Nov. 6 midterm election.
