Donations make most heavily funded election in Harlingen

Early voting begins Monday, April 25, 2022, as voters cast their ballots at Harlingen City Hall. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)

HARLINGEN — Big money’s bank-rolling campaign war chests in a historic election that’s tearing political rifts across town.

From across the Rio Grande Valley and the state, donors contributed to candidates in the most heavily funded city election in more than 20 years as Mayor Chris Boswell, an attorney, runs for a sixth term while attorney Norma Sepulveda vies to become the first woman to serve as the city’s mayor.

After the end of candidates’ reporting period Friday, Boswell’s strongbox had swelled to $67,211 while Sepulveda had nearly matched it, stockpiling $65,499 during the campaign in which she also took out a $3,500 loan, city records show.

In an election that could shift the city commission’s balance of power, Nick Consiglio, running in District 2, and Ford Kinsley, in District 1, have amassed the biggest war chests among candidates sparring for seats in crowded District 1 and 2 races.

Biggest donors

Meanwhile, the election’s biggest donations came from Donna Mayor Rick Morales, Gulf Aviation’s Arlene Garza and former banker Dial Dunkin.

Morales, the biggest donor who’s the brother of District 4 City Commissioner Frank Morales, contributed $4,909 worth of campaign signs and $350 to District 2 candidate Ernesto Cisneros’ camp; $5,500 to Sepulveda’s campaign; and $2,000 to District 1 Commissioner Richard Uribe’s campaign.

While Garza donated $5,500 to Sepulveda’s campaign, she also contributed $5,000 to Uribe’s camp.

For Sepulveda, Dunkin was among her biggest donors, contributing $5,000, while the Harlingen Professional Fire Fighters Association donated $4,668 worth of advertising.

‘He’s family’

Last year, Morales, a Harlingen native, helped finance his brother’s first campaign.

This year, he’s helping Cisneros, his cousin, a retired U.S. Border Patrol agent in the crowded race for District 2’s seat.

“He’s family,” Morales said. “He decided to run — it’s his first time,” adding, “he did a great job defending our borders.”

Morales said he’s got 287 family members living in Harlingen.

“I want to make sure Harlingen is stable and good people are running (it),” he said. “I still have a lot of property in Harlingen.”

Morales said he donated to Sepulveda’s campaign because he’s a family friend.

“I’ve known Norma’s family since I was in kinder,” he said. “I went to school with her aunts.”

Morales said he’s known Uribe since he worked as manager of Los Asados restaurant.

“I’ve known Richard probably 15 years — he’s been a friend,” he said. “I went to school with his sisters. Growing up in Harlingen, you get to meet everyone.”

In a past election, he contributed to Boswell’s camp, he said.

In his 2013 race for mayor, Morales ran against Boswell, who won with 66 percent of the vote.

Hefty contributions

Meanwhile, Garza declined to comment on the reason behind her hefty contributions.

“I don’t have any comment I’d like to share at this time,” she said.

At Valley International Airport, Gulf Aviation’s a fixed-base operator offering aircraft support services such as fueling, hangaring, tie-down and parking, aircraft rental, aircraft maintenance and flight instruction.

Meanwhile, Pat Kornagay, president of Sun Valley Aviation, also an airport fixed-base operator, contributed $1,000 to Boswell’s campaign.

Last year, Sun Valley Aviation filed a lawsuit against the airport, charging officials stopped the company from building a third hangar.

On Aug. 4, Uribe, Frank Morales and Commissioner Rene Perez voted against the lawsuit’s settlement while Commissioners Michael Mezmar and Frank Puente voted for a resolution.

Boswell’s campaign

In Boswell’s campaign, donors contributing $1,000 include Ruth Ewers of Grand Prairie, Wayne and Lacey Lowry of Harlingen, James and Anne McQueen Denison of Harlingen, Judith and Gregory Quisenberry of Harlingen, Jacob Boggus of Harlingen, Michael and Tracia Forman of Harlingen, Joann Boggus of Harlingen, Cecil Simmons of San Benito, Warren Tichener of San Antonio, Frank and Rebecca Ferris of Harlingen, Bryan and Linda Burke of Harlingen and Raymond Wetegrove of Raymondville.

The campaign’s top contributors include Matt and Patricia Gorges of Harlingen, $1,500; TREPAC/Texas Association of Realtors of Austin, $1,500; Rolando and Cynthia Rubiano of Harlingen, $1,250; and Robert Duncan of Rio Hondo, $2,000.

Sepulveda’s campaign

In Sepulveda’s campaign, donors contributing $1,000 include Hiram Gutierrez of McAllen, Marcus Cruz of Harlingen and Joe Salazar III of Harlingen.

Meanwhile, Annie Quintero Garza of Edinburg and Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott of McAllen contributed $1,500; the Law Office of Pablo Rocha of Harlingen, $2,500; USA Federal Rehab of Edinburgh, $2,500; Linda Gallardo of Harlingen, $3,000; and Alonso & Alonso Attorneys at Law, $3,500.

Donors making in-kind contributions include Irma Pena of Harlingen, $1,000; America Garza of Harlingen, $1,300; Sandra Esquivel of San Benito, $1,700; Christi Romero of San Benito, $2,400; and Dani Tiscareno of Harlingen, $4,500.

District 1

In the race for the commission’s District 1 seat, Uribe, a restaurant owner running for a third term, faces former Commissioner J.J. Gonzalez, a real estate broker who served on the commission from 2,000 to 2006; and Ford Kinsley, a retired Marine Corps sergeant major who serves as the Marine Military Academy’s alumni relations director.

In his campaign, Uribe raised total contributions of $15,900, reporting Adrian Gonzalez of Weslaco donated $1,000; Joe Salazar of Harlingen, $1,000; Derren Li of Houston, $2,500; and Godfrey Garza of Edinburg, $2,500.

Meanwhile, Kinsley raised total contributions of $20,558, reporting Frank and Rebecca Ferris of Harlingen donated $1,000; the Harlingen Professional Fire Fighters PAC, $1,000; the TREPAC Texas Association of Realtors Political Action Committee, $1,500; David Hance Flinn of Harlingen, $1,600; and Stuart Plitch of Stuart, Fl., $3,000.

Gonzalez reported no contributions.

District 2

In a four-man scramble for the District 2 seat, Commissioner Frank Puente, a roofing contractor running for his second term, faces Consiglio, a bank marketing director who serves as chairman of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission; Daniel Lopez, an attorney who serves as the Cameron County Commissioners Court’s litigation counsel; and Cisneros, a retired U.S. Border Patrol agent.

In his campaign, Consiglio raised total contributions of $23,395, reporting Wayne and Lacey Lowry of Harlingen donated $1,000; Leo and Monica Schoonover of Harlingen, $1,000; Roberto and Nancy Gonzalez of Harlingen, $1,000; Robert Boggus of Harlingen, $1,000; Rolando and Cynthia Rubiano of Harlingen, $1,250; and the TREPAC/Texas Association of Realtors Political Action Committee, $1,500.

Meanwhile, Lopez raised total contributions of $5,993, reporting Roberto Lopez of Harlingen donated $1,000 and the Harlingen Professional Fire Firefighters, $2,000.

Lopez also reported taking out two loans totalling $22,437.

Puente reported no contributions.