Well, you tried to run a good race, spent more money than you had, more than you could beg, borrow, or even steal, and just when you thought things couldn't get worse, Bam!, the Texas Ethics Commission tells you you owe them money.
"Why?," you ask. Well, apparently you overlooked filing your campaign finance report after your losing efforts at representative government. Many of out Rio Grande Valley candidates owe from $500 to $20,500 in fines to the TEC, its latest number reveal.
Bad news? Not as bad as the ones that came to Ronald E. Reynolds, the state representative from Missouri City, who was fined $52,500 for not filing the reports. We know that Erasmo Castro will probably dispute the findings, but there it is.
Don De Leon's race, for state rep, for example, was stymied when his filing papers didn't state what district he was running for, so he will probably do somersaults denying he owes the TEC a thin dime.
We don't know if owing these fines carries any consequences such as denial of state licenses or services until you pay. If we were the person on the list, we'd contact the TEC real fast and make some sort of arrangement. It seems the ethical thing to do.
Now, we wonder, will other names of Cameron County candidates or office holders be added to the list after this reporting period?
Texas Ethics Commission
DELINQUENT FILER LISTS, FINES
Candidate/Officeholder
Updated July 13, 2018
Castro, Erasmo Candidate for County Party Chair
1216 E. Madison, Ste. D., Brownsville, TX 78520
$500
Alonzo, Arnoldo A. Candidate for State Representative
3719 Rey David, Brownsville, TX 78521
$10,500
Arellano, Velma A. Candidate for State Senator
P. O. Box 5025, McAllen, TX 78502
$500
Betancourt, Timoteo C. 'TC' Candidate for State Representative
P.O. Box 4255, Edinburg, TX 78540-4255
$4,200
Campos, Jose A. 'Joseph' Candidate for State Representative
400 W. 6th St., PMB 1048, Weslaco, TX 78596-5312
$10,500
Cervera, Rebecca J. Candidate for State Representative
5111 N. 10th St. #345, McAllen, TX 78504
$2,000
De Leon, Donald Candidate for State Representative
305 Jade Dr., Brownsville, TX 78520
$500
Godinez, Ricardo R. Candidate for County Party Chair
2415 N. 10th St., McAllen, TX 78501
$13,500
Herrera, Sonia Candidate for District Judge
601 North R Street, Harlingen, TX 78550
$500
Maycot, Anuar J. Candidate for County Party Chair
5 Country Club Rd., Brownsville, TX 78521
$11,000
Montano, Jr. Alfredo Candidate for State Representative
1101 W. Tyler, Harlingen, TX 78550
$20,500
Pinkard, Jr. Michael L. Candidate for State Representative
2413 Xenops Ave., McAllen, TX 78504
$500
Rios, Daniel G. Former District Judge
323 Nolana Loop, McAllen, TX 78504-2514
$1,000
Rodriguez III Osbert G. Candidate for State Senator
1020 Dennet Rd., Brownsville, TX 78526
$1,000
RuBane Rebecca E. Candidate for District Judge
847 E. Harrison St., Brownsville, TX 78520
$11,500