District 7 losing candidate Fred Rangel fined by Ethics Commission
QSanAntonio.com, June 1, 2011

Fred Rangel, one of the losing candidates in the District 7 City Council race, has been fined by the Texas Ethics Commission for violating the Election Code. The Commission's findings were outlined in a letter sent to Rangel on May 24.

Rangel, who came in fourth in a five-way race for District 7, accepted campaign donations and made campaign expenditures without filing a required campaign treasurer appointment. He was fined $500 for the violation.

The Commission's report shows that Rangel collected $1,230 in contributions and made $250 in political expenditures between October 28 and November 1, 2010 prior to having appointed a treasurer for his campaign, therefore violating election laws.

"I have over the last ten years maintained the highest standards in observing the rules of the Texas Ethics Commission," Rangel responded in writing to the Commission. "Up to 2006, I have had a treasure (sic) with all documentation in order. It was through the date of October 28th, 2010 that I believed the filings were active."

"I received a call from your office on November 1, 2010. The very next day on Nov. 2nd, I approached the City Clerks office where I was advised that I had in fact closed the status in 2006, four years ago," Rangel wrote in reference to his previous run for the District 7 seat. "I erred in memory, but it has continually been my intention to obey the rules of the Commission."

Once notified of his failings, Rangel submitted the completed treasurer's document as required by law and agreed to the fine without contesting the ruling.

In the District 7 election on May 14, Rangel came in fourth with 10.32 percent of the vote. During the early days of the campaign some local politicos speculated that he might win the race.

In the runoff, Rangel has endorsed frontrunner Cris Medina. However, that endorsement has come with a bit of "sore loser" grumbling in the form of a jab at one of his other opponents.

Rangel told the San Antonio Express-News that his support of Medina was a rejection of Elena Guajardo, the candidate who came in second in the race and who was endorsed by the newspaper.

District 7 Election Results
Ruben A. Cortez . . . . . . . . 125 / 2.17%
Cris Medina. . . . . . . . . . 2,773 / 48.16%
Fred A. Rangel. . . . . . . . . 594 / 10.32%
Gloria Rodriguez . . . . . . . . 1,120 / 19.45%
Elena Guajardo. . . . . . . . . 1,146 / 19.90%