The Texas Ethics Commission requires that candidates for political races file campaign contribution reports and expenditure reports. Candidates for the office of District Attorney had to file their reports by July 15, 2007. One is allowed to spend campaign contributions on expenses related to one's campaign.
When I consider spending campaign funds I ask myself three questions:
1) Can my campaign afford this expense?
2) Will this expense benefit my campaign?
3) Is this the kind of expense that my contributors have given me their hard-earned money for?
If the answer is yes to all three questions, then I usually go ahead and spend the money. If you look at my campaign expense report, you will see that most of my expenses go to advertising, to getting my message directly out to the public. I do not spend money on meals or on other people's campaigns, or on golf tournaments or on out of country travel. Now while it is within the rules of ethics for one candidate to give money to another candidate out of campaign funds, I personally do not think that that is right. If Mr. John Doe gives me $100 to help me, Theresa Caballero candidate for DA, I hardly think he intended for me to turn around and give it to my candidate of choice for president. Your own sense of morality should tell you that this is wrong. Maybe Mr. John Doe doesn't like my choice for president.
I recently reviewed Jaime Esparza's campaign report on "Political Expenditures" and found some expenses that are questionable. Esparza spent some of his contributions in Mexico City and Juarez:
-Au Pie de Cuchon, in Mexico City, 6-26-07, $356.71;
-Marigarcos de Niza, Mexico City, 2-28-07, $98.50
-Parador Tomochi, Cd. Juarez, 1-18-07, $93.10
-Restaurante El Arroyo, Mexico City, 2-09-07, $166.80
-Restaurante Sheraton Maria Isabel, 6-25-07, $135.69
What could a candidate be doing on his campaign in a foreign country's capitol, 1000 miles away from home at fancy restaurants that could be a legitimate campaign expense? If you mention your campaign over lunch with your county paid personal secretary (the one you give a $35,000 "supplement" to on top of her county salary) whom you have taken with you to Mexico City, does that then make it a "campaign expense?" And if the rules of ethics actually allow these kinds of shenanigans, is that what your contributors had in mind when they sent you their hard earned cash?
You can look up my report and Esparza's report on the Texas Ethics website. Mr. Esparza has obviously been in office too long and has never had a challenger and therefore feels comfortable spending your money on these kinds of expenditures. Is this how he runs his office? I say it is time for a change.
When I consider spending campaign funds I ask myself three questions:
1) Can my campaign afford this expense?
2) Will this expense benefit my campaign?
3) Is this the kind of expense that my contributors have given me their hard-earned money for?
If the answer is yes to all three questions, then I usually go ahead and spend the money. If you look at my campaign expense report, you will see that most of my expenses go to advertising, to getting my message directly out to the public. I do not spend money on meals or on other people's campaigns, or on golf tournaments or on out of country travel. Now while it is within the rules of ethics for one candidate to give money to another candidate out of campaign funds, I personally do not think that that is right. If Mr. John Doe gives me $100 to help me, Theresa Caballero candidate for DA, I hardly think he intended for me to turn around and give it to my candidate of choice for president. Your own sense of morality should tell you that this is wrong. Maybe Mr. John Doe doesn't like my choice for president.
I recently reviewed Jaime Esparza's campaign report on "Political Expenditures" and found some expenses that are questionable. Esparza spent some of his contributions in Mexico City and Juarez:
-Au Pie de Cuchon, in Mexico City, 6-26-07, $356.71;
-Marigarcos de Niza, Mexico City, 2-28-07, $98.50
-Parador Tomochi, Cd. Juarez, 1-18-07, $93.10
-Restaurante El Arroyo, Mexico City, 2-09-07, $166.80
-Restaurante Sheraton Maria Isabel, 6-25-07, $135.69
What could a candidate be doing on his campaign in a foreign country's capitol, 1000 miles away from home at fancy restaurants that could be a legitimate campaign expense? If you mention your campaign over lunch with your county paid personal secretary (the one you give a $35,000 "supplement" to on top of her county salary) whom you have taken with you to Mexico City, does that then make it a "campaign expense?" And if the rules of ethics actually allow these kinds of shenanigans, is that what your contributors had in mind when they sent you their hard earned cash?
You can look up my report and Esparza's report on the Texas Ethics website. Mr. Esparza has obviously been in office too long and has never had a challenger and therefore feels comfortable spending your money on these kinds of expenditures. Is this how he runs his office? I say it is time for a change.