SBOE Campaign Finance Update

Less than three weeks into the 2010 election year, it appears that Texas State Board of Education incumbent Ken Mercer, R-San Antonio, has the best-financed challenger among contested state board races. Campaign finance reports were due from candidates by January 15. These reports cover the last six months of 2009. The next finance reports are due 30 days before the March 2 primaries. Following are campaign finance data available for Republican and Democratic candidates for the state board. (I) indicates incumbent. Click here for more information about the candidates. (We have tried to include links to campaign Web sites. Please send us links to campaign Web sites we have missed.)

District 1

This district is dominated by El Paso but stretches to the Rio Grande Valley.

Democrat

Rene Nuñez (I): no contributions, in $465 cash on hand

Republican

Carlos “Charlie” Garza: no report available yet

District 3

This is a San Antonio-based district. Democratic incumbent Rick Agosto is not running for re-election.

Democrat

Michael Soto: $14,242.68 in contributions, in $9,190.41 cash on hand

Republican Primary

Tony Cunningham: no report available yet

Joanie Muenzler: no report available yet

District 4

This is a Houston district.

Incumbent Lawrence Allen Jr., D-Houston, faces neither Democratic nor Republican opposition for re-election.

District 5

This district stretches from Bexar County to southern Travis County and includes the Hill Country.

Republican Primary

Ken Mercer (I): $8,035.00 in contributions, in $3,639.05 cash on hand

Tim Tuggey: $60,330.58 in contributions, in $24,945.65 cash on hand

Democratic Primary

Rebecca Bell-Metereau: $17,797 in contributions, in $6,414.44 cash on hand

Robert Bohmfalk: no report available yet

Daniel Boone: $4,176.72 in contributions, in $3,457.72 cash on hand

Josiah Ingalls: $350 in contributions, in $36.15 cash on hand

District 9

This largely East-Central Texas district stretches from Plano to Bryan-College Station.

Don McLeroy (I): $1,200 in contributions, $611.33 in cash on hand

Thomas Ratliff: $15,173.20 in contributions, $8,098.50 in cash on hand

District 10

This district stretches from Williamson and northern Travis County to just west of Houston. Republican incumbent Cynthia Dunbar is not running for re-election.

Republican Primary

Marsha Farney: no contributions, no cash on hand

Rebecca Osborne: $5,416.00 in contributions, $5,515.09 in cash on hand

Brian Russell: $8,229.40 in contributions, $7,455 in cash on hand

Democrat

Judy Jennings: $15,900 in contributions, $14,072.31 in cash on hand

District 12

This is a Dallas-area district.

Republican Primary

Geraldine “Tincy” Miller (I): contributions or cash on hand, $48,685.71 in reported expenditures.

George Clayton: no contributions, no cash on hand

District 15

This district includes the Panhandle and much of West Texas.

Republican Primary

Bob Craig (I): $4,000 in contributions, $4,443.31 in cash on hand

Randy Rives: no contributions, no cash on hand