In her most recent column, the Chronicle‘s Kristen Mack wrote about political contributions to local political candidates and PACs:
Mayor Bill White raised $2.2 million during the first six months of this year for his November re-election bid, according to a report filed July 15 for his Friends of Bill White fund.
The mayor also has three other campaign accounts affiliated with him and his causes.
He still has $800,000 left over in his 2003 mayoral race account, which he has used for expenses, including consultants and pollsters.
[snip]
HOU PAC, which White created to promote the city at the state level, raised $217,000 from just 16 donors during the period.
Other council incumbents, hoping to fend off challengers, have rolled in the cash as well. District G Councilwoman Pam Holm raised $236,000, according to her July 15 report. At-large Position 5 Councilman Michael Berry bought in $248,000.
“Stockpiling a war chest is a talisman, assuring no credible candidate will file against you,” Berry said. “Money provides an incredible security blanket.”
Given the fact that both the Chronicle editorial board and Councilmember Goldberg suggested that Councilmember Addie Wiseman’s stance on Houston MediaSource’s vulgarity was somehow motivated by campaign concerns, the fact that Mack didn’t report on Wiseman’s campaign finances seems like a striking omission.
Wiseman’s campaign finance report, available on the City of Houston website, shows total political contributions of $39,725 this year and total political contributions on hand as of July 15 of $61,758.39. No candidates have announced to run against her.
We were pleased to see Mack identify Rice political scientist Bob Stein accurately.
