It's a classic tale of David versus Goliath, but in the political ring of Houston's At-Large Position 3 council race. The war chests couldn't have been more unequal, with Twila Carter stacking up a hefty $147,659.67 compared to Richard Cantu's modest $12,961.93 in campaign expenses, as per the tallies of the Houston Chronicle. Despite that, the vote's voice nearly sung in unison, with Cantu clinching 22% to Carter's 20.7%. A clear message that money might not always buy the ballot's love.
Running to represent the whole of Houston, the candidates each had their own strategies to court the city's favor. Carter, flexing her fundraising muscles, played up her former exec pedigree at the Astros and Astros Foundation, throwing glittering events at Minute Maid Park and scooping up a cool $200,000 back in February. Cantu, on the other hand, kept it local, kicking things off at Fiesta En Guadalajara, a Mexican joint that knows how to spice up a campaign, according to his Community Impact Q&A.
The chase for cash saw Carter still sitting on a neat pile of $56,402.10 in contributions, while Cantu's war chest rang in at $30,081.63, reports the Houston Chronicle. Yet, when it came to rolling up sleeves and shaking hands, pundits like Rice University's political science sage, Bob Stein, put the currency in connections. "To me, money in most races don't matter," Stein told the Houston Chronicle, suggesting deep roots in the community can trump the thickest of wallets.
As the dust settles and the December 9 runoff approaches, one can't help but ponder if Carter's cash cannon might make a difference or if Cantu's grassroots grip will prove mightier. While Stein plays down the dollar's sway, citing low turnout and the weight of word of mouth, both candidates aren't sparing any effort to rally their bases. Carter, scaling back from her pre-November frenzy, aims to "keep the same thing going, just at a little different pace," she revealed to the Houston Chronicle. In contrast, Cantu, whose voice was silent to the Chronicle's outreach, is expected to rely on his strong network fostered through years in county government.
