Carlos Uresti is finally out of politics, but that doesn’t mean another Uresti may step into his State Senate seat.
Older brother Tomas Uresti, who was the state representative for District 118, has filed to run for State Senate District 19, according to the Texas Secretary of State. Uresti is one of four Democrats running for the seat. The race also includes three Republicans and one Libertarian.
As Reform Austin previously reported, Carlos Uresti resigned from his position after he was convicted of 11 felony charges. Uresti’s replacement will be decided in a July 31 special election. Here’s what you need to know about each candidate.
Tomas Uresti – Carlos’ younger brother, Tomas Uresti was defeated in March by newcomer Leo Pacheco for the Democratic nomination for House District 118. Pacheco will face Republican candidate John Lujan on Nov. 6 for House District 118, reports news station KSAT-TV.
Tomas Uresti worked as a teacher in Harlandale ISD for 23 years, according to his Texas House webpage. He also served on the Harland ISD Board of Trustees for 13 years and was on the board of directors for the Bexar County Appraisal District for Four years.
Uresti reports having $43.30 in hand, according to a July 13 filing. The politician reports spending a combined $5,586.76 on flyers, $400 on newspaper ads and $330.76 on food for an election party. He received $5,000 from Border Health PAC and $3,000 from ACT for Texas Classroom Teachers Association, according to records.
Jesse (Jay) Alaniz – A Republican nominee, Alaniz is the former president of the Harlandale Independent School District Board. He was the District 7 incumbent on the school board. His four-year term expired in 2015 and he was defeated in the May 9, 2015 general election when he ran for the seat again, according to Ballotpedia.
Alaniz has $750 cash on hand, according to a July 15 campaign finance report.
Peter Flores – The Republican nominee who was defeated by Carlos Uresti in the 2016 General Election, Flores is a retired game warden of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Flores lists paying $1,729.84 in printing expenses and $1,718.75 in sign placement and maintenance, advertising for his campaign.
Records indicate Flores has $7,381.51 in cash in hand according to his July 15 filing.
Pete Gallego – A Democratic candidate, Pete Gallego was a U.S. Representative for Texas from 2013 to 2015. He lost his seat to Republican William Hurd in 2014, who is the current representative for the 23rd Congressional District. Prior to running for Congress, Gallego served in the Texas House for more than 20 years, according to the Texas Tribune.
Gallego lists receiving $173,108.95 in total political contributions on his campaign finance report. Contributions range as low as $3 to $2,700 from various individuals.
Gallego lists $18,039.41 in total political expenditures including $2,000 for renting a San Antonio office, $2,070.28 in for signs and $1,250 for a ballot filing fee.
Records indicate Gallego has $130,069.54 in cash on hand according to his July 2 campaign finance report. Gallego’s campaign finance report for the July 16 deadline has not been posted on the Texas Ethics Commission website.
Roland Gutierrez – State Rep. Roland Gutierrez (D – San Antonio) was elected to represent House District 119 after winning a special election in May 2008.
The state representative lists having $184,602 in total political contributions on his campaign finance report. Gutierrez has received $6,000 from the Beer Alliance of Texas PAC, $5,000 from the Border Health PAC, $2,000 from Chesapeake Energy for Texans PAC and $2,500 from the Comcast Corp. & NBC Universal PAC.
Gutierrez lists $125,891.84 in total political expenditures including $5,000 for direct door-to-door advertising, $3,750 in door hanger distribution and $2,789.80 in mileage reimbursement for travel.
Records indicate Gutierrez has $196,200.10 in cash on hand, according to a corrected July 13 filing that was originally filed for the July 2 deadline. The Texas Ethics Commission has not posted a new filing for the July 16 deadline.
Carlos Antonio Raymond – A Realtor who failed to get the Republican nomination for House District 117 this past March, is running again as a Republican. Raymond lists no contributions or expenses on his campaign finance report.
Tony Valdivia – Valdivia is running as a Democrat. He lists no contributions or expenses on his campaign finance report.
Charlie Urbina Jones filed as a Democrat. He did not submit a campaign finance report, according to records.
Personal finance statements for the July 31 special election for the Senate District 19 seat are due by July 26, according to the Texas Ethics Commission. The July semiannual campaign finance report has to be filed by July 16 and the 8-day campaign finance report has a July 23 deadline. The complete deadlines can be found on the Texas Ethics Commission website.
