Political spending for a pair of Hays CISD board trustee seats is ramping up as all six candidates ready during the lead-up to Election Day next month.
In the race for the Hays CISD at-large seat, candidate Debbie Munoz has outspent and outgained fellow challengers Doyla Burrell and Vanessa Petrea, according to campaign finance reports, which were due April 6.
Munoz, who had an unsuccessful bid for school board several years ago, exhausted all but $109 of the $1,995 in political contributions received from Jan. 26 to April 5.
During that time, Munoz received 23 monetary contributions of varying amounts, with the largest being a $250 from tax collection law firm Linebarger, Goggan, Blair and Sampson, LLP.
Seventy percent of Munoz’ expenses went to yard signs, while she also spent $100 as a donation to the Hays Rebel 5K run.
Petrea, who is running in her first political campaign, equally shelled out the dollars between Valentine’s Day and April 6.
Petrea, a former PTA president, spent $1,460 dollars on her campaign. According to the report, the amount was reimbursements to herself for campaign signs and advertising that had been purchased.
Three current city council members and one Hays CISD board trustee made monetary contributions to Petrea during the period as well.
Kyle Mayor Todd Webster contributed $100, while Travis Mitchell, Kyle District 1 City Council Member, contributed $200. Lee Urbanovsky, Buda City Council place 1 member, along with his wife, Amy Urbanovsky, contributed $150.
Hays CISD District 4 trustee Esperanza Orosco and her husband, David Orosco, contributed $50. Petrea has $137 left in her political war chest.
Burrell, a military veteran who is a political newcomer, spent just over $680 on political signs on her campaign between Feb. 15 and March 31.
According to her report, Burrell received a $300 contribution from Buda attorney Lucinda Doyle, while also listing a $500 donation to herself. Burrell has no more political contributions left.
In the race for the District 1 seat, currently held by incumbent Teresa Tobias, challenger Charles McNiel, Jr. received over $1,990 in political contributions from Feb. 17 to April 6.
McNiel, a sales manager who is running his first political campaign, received an $887 in-kind contribution from business owner Matt Ocker for a crawfish boil fundraiser.
Ocker, who has been a vocal opponent of Hays CISD’s May 2017 bond, also loaned McNiel $1,200.
McNiel also received $737 in monetary contributions from six people.
Roughly 90 percent of McNiel’s expenses went to printing expenses for political signs.
Campaign finance reports for Hays CISD candidates
At-Large
Debbie Munoz
Total Political Contributions $1,995
Total Political Expenditures $1,885.26
Political contributions maintained
during the last reporting period $109.74
Vanessa Petrea
Total Political Contributions $1,305
Total Political Expenditures $1,467.01
Political contributions maintained during the last reporting period $137.99
Doyla Burrell
Total Political Contributions $800
Total Political Expenditures $691.98
Political contributions maintained during the last reporting period $118.02
District 1
Charles McNiel, Jr.
Total Political Contributions $1,994.13
Total Political Expenditures $641.12
Political contributions maintained during the last reporting period $1,681.48
Teresa Tobias filed for modified reporting, which signifies she does not intend to exceed $500 in political expenditures or contributions in connection with the election. Michelle Ray Carey has not filed a campaign finance report at this time. Unopposed District 2 candidate Willie Tenorio did not file a campaign finance report.
