A list of city council candidates are late or have not yet filed updated campaign finance reports with the city secretary.
A political analyst tells 6 Investigates it can hurt them at the polls.
“It’s a trust issue,” says David Smith, political science professor at TAMU-CC.
Smith says with money playing an ever-increasing role in national, state and even local political races, knowing who’s donating to your candidate can make a big difference in voters’ minds.
“Money is money,” Smith said. “In some ways, people believe that politics is being driven by money. So, they more transparent you are about where – and from whom – your money is coming, the more trust you’re instilling with voters and the more rapport you’ll have with voters.”
And yet, 6 Investigates finds that several city council candidates either missed by several days – or have not yet even filed – 30-day campaign finance reports, which were due Oct. 9, and show months worth of political fundraising and spending.
Here’s the report:
