Vela leads in fundraising for District 4 seat

Progressive Jose “Chito” Vela is probably the best known of the seven candidates running in the Jan. 25 special election to fill the District 4 Council seat that Greg Casar is vacating. So it came as no surprise to learn that his campaign had raised the most among those vying for the spot. Candidates were required to turn in their 30-day campaign finance reports on Dec. 27, giving the public a chance to see how they’re doing in fundraising. Vela reported raising more than $41,000, including a $400 contribution from Mayor Steve Adler. The Austin Firefighters PAC also filed its monthly report, indicating that the group is endorsing Vela. Conservative Amanda Rios, who has support from the leaders of Save Austin Now, reported raising a little more than $11,000, including a $150 in-kind contribution from Matt Mackowiak – chair of the Travis County Republican Party – for work on her website. Monica Guzmán raised just over $5,000 and received contributions from Ann Denkler, Jim Duncan and David King. Denkler and King are members of the Zoning and Platting Commission while Duncan is a land use expert and former chair of ZAP. Candidate Jade Lovera reported raising $1,765. One of her contributors was Betsy Greenberg, another member of ZAP. Melinda Schiera reported raising $358.73 and spending $451.90. Isa Boonto-Zarifis reported zero dollars in contributions and $600 in expenditures. She spent $500 on the filing fee, and according to her report, gave $100 to her former campaign manager, Katherine Wilcox, “as a gift.” Ramesses II Setepenre did not file the required report.