January reports show who’s got the money to run again

On Jan. 15, months after votes from the November election were tallied, all City Council members and candidates filed reports showing how much they had in their campaign bank accounts as of Dec. 31.

Mayor Kirk Watson is clearly the big spender from the November City Council ballot, having spent more than $1 million to get reelected. In his Jan. 15 report, Watson reported just a little more than $6,500 in the bank. He had an outstanding personal loan of $25,000.

Watson’s runoff opponent, Carmen Llanes Pulido, reported that her campaign still owes her more than $42,000 in outstanding loans. Another mayoral candidate, Doug Greco, reported no cash on hand and no outstanding loans.

Reports from downballot city candidates show who might be getting ready early for the 2026 elections.

Council members Ryan Alter and Zo Qadri were both elected in 2022 and are eligible to run for reelection in 2026. Alter has already reported collecting $82,838 in campaign contributions should he decide to run for reelection to his District 5 seat.

Over in District 9, Qadri is also getting prepared early for another contest. He reported collecting $155,756.16 on his January report.

Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes is serving her second Council term. She reported in January that she had $60,887.94 cash on hand. She told The Austin Bulldog, “I plan to retain these funds to supplement officeholder expenses and contribute to organizations and causes that support our community. These funds will help ensure we can continue engaging effectively with constituents, support community initiatives, and maintain strong connections with the diverse neighborhoods we serve.”

She could run for reelection to her District 2 seat in 2028 by gathering sufficient signatures from people in her district to put her name on the ballot. However, she indicated that she has not made a decision about that yet.

District 4 Council Member Chito Vela reported he had more than $11,400 in his campaign account. The campaign owes him $10,500. His opponent, Louis Herrin III, reported no outstanding loans.

New District 10 Council Member Marc Duchen reported that he has $6,542 in his campaign coffers. However, his campaign owes him $20,000. His opponent, Ashika Ganguly, reported that her campaign owes her $6,400.

District 6 Council Member Krista Laine also reported the campaign owes her $20,000. She said she has $6,183.58 in her account.

Another new Council member, District 7’s Mike Siegel, reported he had $9,884.52 in his campaign account. His runoff opponent, Gary Bledsoe, reported the campaign still owed him $27,900.

D3 Council Member José Velásquez reported $6,183.58 in his campaign coffers and no outstanding loans.

In District 8, Council Member Paige Ellis reported $6,693.01 in the bank and no loans to be repaid. Like Alter and Qadri, she could run for reelection when her term is up if she gathers enough signatures to put her name on the ballot a third time.

District 1 Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison reported about $420 in the bank and no loans. She could run for reelection by gathering signatures on a petition to put her name on the ballot.

Former Council Member Leslie Pool, who retired at the end of her term, reported that the campaign still owes her $41,000. Former Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, who lost her election, reported no outstanding loans. Former Council Member Alison Alter, who was term limited and did not run, reported no loans outstanding.

One of Watson’s 2022 opponents, Jennifer Virden, loaned her campaign $300,000 in December 2021. She has now filed a final campaign finance report, showing that the campaign still owes her $75,816.02.

Photo made available through a Creative Commons license.

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