Casar dominates fundraising in Council District 4 race

District 4 has a wealth of candidates, but only a handful of them brought in significant campaign contributions for the upcoming Council election. Greg Casar, the community organizer with the Workers Defense Project, pulled in just over $40,000, with a large number of donors, including a couple of labor unions. Casar lists 33,329 cash on hand and has loaned himself $5,025 for the campaign.

Major donors included the Ironworkers State COPE Fund, the Southwest Laborers District Council PAC, developer Perry Lorenz, Texas Civil Rights attorney Brian McGiverin, attorney and activist Brad Rockwell, activist Brian Rodgers and the Texas Democratic Party.

Katrina Daniel, who is an associate commissioner for the Texas Department of Insurance, collected slightly over $30,000 by the reporting deadline, listing $10,734 cash on hand.

Contributors to her campaign include lobbyist Ted Delisi, former City Council Members Betty Dunkerley and Randi Shade and former Austin Mayor and current Travis County Commissioner Bruce Todd.

Business owner and anti-fluoride activist Laura Pressley reported $30,430 in contributions up to the June 30 deadline. She lists $20,631 in cash on hand and has loaned her campaign $2,000.

Notable contributors to Pressley’s campaign include eastside publisher and activist Akwasi Evans, former Council Member George Humphrey, Board of Adjustment Member Jeff Jack, Austin NAACP President Nelson Linder, activist Brian Rodgers and developer Ed Wendler Jr.

Other candidates reporting contributions included Marco Mancillas, who raised $10,078 and lists $5,951 on hand; Monica Guzmán, who raised $597 and has $198 on hand; and Roberto Perez Jr., who raised $100, has $6.61 on hand, and loaned his campaign $850. Sharon Mays raised no money, but loaned her campaign $2,100.

Candidates Xavier Hernandez. and Manuel A. Munoz both reported raising no money;

Gabriel Rojas has suspended his campaign, and Louis Herrin III has not filed a report. Rojas told the Austin Monitor Thursday he is suspending his campaign, although he has hopes that he might launch another race for the same spot either two years or four years from now. Rojas is a member of the Zoning and Platting Commission and said he would continue that service as well as work in the community. However, this year is “not the right time for my family,” Rojas said.