HARLINGEN — If money means votes, incumbent Mayor Chris Boswell will win the May 7 election in a landslide.
Boswell’s war chest stands unrivaled among challengers running for the mayor’s seat.
Boswell amassed $25,800 in political contributions from Jan. 16 to April 6, overwhelmingly outraising and outspending his three opponents.
So far, Boswell has reported $16,308.23 in expenditures in the race in which he faces former City Commissioner Jerry Prepejchal, businessman Kenneth Benton and former Police Lt. Joe Rubio.
Boswell’s expenditures included $100 to Residence Inn by Marriott, Harlingen; $13,526.97 to Meade Marketing, Harlingen; $500 to Voter’s Voice RGV Magazine; $304.34 to McCoy’s Building Supply, Harlingen; $173.08 to Allegra Printing, Harlingen; $1,050 to Ray Candia, of Santa Rosa and $653.84 to Golden Palms Retirement and Health Center, Harlingen.
Prepejchal reported $1,737.41 in contributions and $1,737.41 in expenditures from Feb. 22 to April 7.
For Prepejchal, contributions included $500 from Rudolph Martinez, $100 from Omar Villarreal, $800 from Valdo Gonzalez and $200 from Lonnie Davis. All are residents of Harlingen.
Prepejchal listed personal contributions of $137.41.
Expenditures included $1,637.41 to My World, Brownsville; and $100 to Gariel, Harlingen.
Benton, who reported no contributions, listed $5,000 in outstanding loans from March 17 to April 7.
Expenditures included $2,571 to the Valley Morning Star; $1,862.95 to RGV Website Design; $250 to My Harlingen News, Harlingen; and $50 to My Leader News, San Marcos.
Rubio, who reported no contributions, listed $436.77 in expenditures from Feb. 18 to April 7.
Expenditures included $600 to www.signdepotyardsigns, Orlando, Fla.; $73.54 to Home Depot, Harlingen; and $200 to www.mycampaignstore.com, Louisville, Ky.
But it is Boswell’s list of contributors that is long and impressive, utilizing several pages on the campaign finance reports filed with the city.
The report shows nearly all of Boswell’s contributions came from Harlingen, with some from Palm Valley, San Benito, Combes, Rio Hondo, Raymondville, McAllen and Dallas.
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