Posted on Sat, Apr. 12, 2008

Immigration issue boosts fundraising
By PATRICK McGEEStar-Telegram staff writer
Campaign coffers have swelled in Farmers Branch and Irving, where illegal immigration has become a major issue in the May 10 municipal elections.

In Irving, Mayor Herbert Gears has raised many times as much money as his opponents, Rigoberto Reza and Roland Jeter. City Councilwoman Rose Cannaday raised about four times as much as opponent Sue Richardson.

In Farmers Branch, City Councilman Tim O'Hare has also far outraised his opponent, Gene Blodsoe, in their race for mayor.

The three big-money candidates support their cities' crackdowns on illegal immigrants. Their opponents range in opinion from Blodsoe, who opposes Farmers Branch's approach, to Richardson, who supports additional action in Irving.

Officials from both cities say O'Hare's and the Irving incumbents' fundraising totals are unusually high.

"It shows pretty plainly that immigration is a big issue," said Allan Saxe, an associate political science professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. "It's a lot of money, and it probably will grow because we still have another six weeks or so" to raise cash.

Farmers Branch is fighting high-profile court battles to ban illegal immigrants from renting apartments in the city. Irving screens anyone arrested for possible referral to federal immigration authorities. More than 2,500 suspected illegal immigrants have been turned over for deportation since September 2006.

O'Hare said he did not ask anyone for donations.

"All of the money came from people saying they wanted to help," he said.

Gears and Cannaday said they worked hard to raise money.

"I know you can lose these things, and I try to do everything I can," Gears said. "I know this election is very important."

Campaign funding

Irving mayor

Herbert Gears (i): $90,858

Rigoberto Reza: $5,290

Roland Jeter: $7,159.21

Irving City Council Place 5

Rose Cannaday (i): $41,295

Sue Richardson: $10,274

Irving City Council Place 3

Allan Meagher (i) did not file required campaign funding report

Nancy Guadalupe: $2,275

Farmers Branch mayor

Councilman Tim O'Hare: $47,048.28

Gene Bledsoe: $8,875

Farmers Branch City Council Place 2

Ruben Rendon: $2,825

Harold Froehlich: $4,050

pmcgee@star-telegram.com
PATRICK McGEE, 817-685-3806
http://www.star-telegram.com/dallas_new ... 77992.html