Money's Impact on Political Campaigns in Harris County, Texas: An Expert's Perspective

Running for public office in Texas (except for federal office) requires a candidate to submit a request for appointment of campaign treasurer by a judicial candidate (JCTA form) to the appropriate filing authority before becoming a candidate. This is even if the candidate does not plan to accept campaign contributions or make campaign expenses. The Commission's Campaign Finance Guide for Political Committees outlines the general rules applicable to all political committees. Candidates, officials, and political committees must obtain certain documentation related to contributions from a political committee in another state.

This includes the submission of an appointment as campaign treasurer, which does not constitute a candidacy or an announcement of candidacy for the purposes of the automatic waiver provisions of Article XVI, Section 65, or Article XI, Section 11, of the Texas Constitution. Non-judicial officials who become candidates for the judiciary and decide to submit a campaign finance report that includes both the activity of the candidate and that of the office holder must indicate the amount attributed to non-judicial contributions and the amount attributed to judicial contributions. The Texas House of Representatives recently voted to force Harris County to remove its top election official and give state officials more authority in that country's elections. Political committees that accepted a political contribution from (or (as described above) during the two years immediately before the lobbyist made or authorized the spending must adhere to certain regulations.

Incumbent judges and candidates for judicial office who wish to hold office throughout the state are required to submit reports in connection with a special session of the legislature if they accept political contributions during that period.

Legal Challenges in Harris County

Many legal disputes have arisen in Harris County regarding voting rights. Article 253.161 of the Electoral Code prohibits, in some circumstances, a judicial or non-judicial candidate, an office holder, or a committee for a specific purpose from using political contributions to make a political contribution to another candidate, official, or political committee. If a candidate or officeholder deposits personal funds into an account in which political contributions are deposited, as allowed by section 253.0351 (c) of the Electoral Code, the amount deposited must be declared as a loan and the repayments to the candidate or office holder cannot exceed the amount declared as a loan.

The payment made by a candidate, holder of an office or political committee for a specific purpose that supports a candidate or office holder, derived from political contributions to a company in which the candidate or holder of the position has a stake of more than ten percent, a position in the company's governing body, or a position as a company official cannot exceed the amount necessary to reimburse the company for the actual expenses incurred by the company.

Campaign Treasurer Appointment

A written candidate cannot accept a political contribution or make political spending before appointing a campaign treasurer and submitting a written statement of candidacy. If a person who has registered campaign treasurer appointment does not expect to accept more political contributions, make more political spending, or take additional steps to be elected to public office, they can submit a final report. If an incumbent judge or candidate for judicial office wishes to hold office throughout Texas, they must submit reports in connection with any special session of legislature if they accept political contributions during that period. Candidates and officeholders must maintain political contributions in one or more accounts that are separate from any other account held by them.

Conclusion

Money is an integral part of any successful political campaign in Harris County, Texas. Candidates must adhere to certain regulations when accepting and using political contributions. They must also appoint campaign treasurers and submit reports when necessary. It is important for candidates and officeholders to understand these regulations so they can run their campaigns effectively.