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Council member's fundraiser raises questions

Councilman says money from event will help pay off campaign debt

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David Hagan
  • BY DAVID TEWES - DTEWES@VICAD.COM
  • Originally published November 18, 2009 at 7:24 p.m., updated November 19, 2009 at 12:25 a.m.

  • PREVIOUS ELECTION

    Incumbent David Hagan won a heated race in May with challenger James Martinez for the single-member District 4 spot on the Victoria City Council.

    He picked up 58 percent of the votes cast in the race, while ...

  • SHOW ALL »

    • PREVIOUS ELECTION

    Incumbent David Hagan won a heated race in May with challenger James Martinez for the single-member District 4 spot on the Victoria City Council.

    He picked up 58 percent of the votes cast in the race, while Martinez had 42 percent of the votes.

A fundraiser for Victoria City Council Member David Hagan just months after his re-election to a three-year term has some asking whether he's preparing a run for another office.

But Hagan said that's not the case.

"Right now it's my objective to stay right where I'm at," he said. "I'm just plugging away with what I'm doing."

He added that he would not rule out other options.

Hagan represents single-member District 4, which covers east-central Victoria. He was re-elected to office in May and his term doesn't expire until May 2012.

Victoria businessmen Buddy Kamin and Jeff Williams are serving as co-chairmen for a fundraiser from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Fossati's Delicatessen.

"It's just to retire the debt he has from his last campaign," Williams said.

Hagan said while the money could be used for that, it's a general fundraiser that would allow him to communicate with the public. He said he has come under attack for his position on issues and he wants to be able to send out newsletters and similar publications to let his thoughts be known.

Most candidates for local office typically don't begin fundraising years in advance of an election, which may have led to speculation that he's running for another office.

"Have I ever been a typical councilman?" Hagan asked. "Fundraising is not just something you do at election time."

He said the money for the fundraiser will come from his current account, although Williams and Kamin have pledged to donate an amount equal to the event's cost.

City Secretary Scarlet Swoboda confirmed that Hagan's campaign finance and expenditure account from the last election remains on file and open.


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Comments

  • TxEx TxEx Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    I have a distrust for Mr. Williams, Mr. Kamin and Mr. Hagan.

    November 19, 2009 at 8:53 p.m.
  • JeffWilliams JeffWilliams Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    To set the record straight!

    First, I told Mr. Tewes when he contacted me over two weeks ago what I had been told by Mr. Hagan regarding why he was holding this fund raiser, to help pay down debt from his succesful re-election earlier this year. I was mis-quoted in this news release to make it appear these were my words when in reality they were Mr. Hagan's words that I repeated to Mr. Tewes. Furthermore I referred Mr. Tewes to speak directly to Mr. Hagan regarding the status of his campaign finances and the reasons for his holding the fund raiser.

    Second, at no time have I ever stated publicly or privately, alluded to or even considered any action "to donate an amount equal to the event's cost". As of this date my contributions to Mr. Hagan's campaign consist of speaking out when I agree with his position, placing a campaign sign at my residence during his re-election bid, writing a letter to the editor in his support and adding my name to a letter inviting the public to help in his fund raising efforts.

    I take great exception with Mr. Tewes and the Victoria Advocate making statements about my pledging to donate money when this is a complete and outright falsehood. Mr. Tewes contacted me two or maybe three times two weeks ago while trying to make something news worthy about my name being on a letter for Mr. Hagan. Mr. Tewes made no effort to contact me to determine if there was any truth in his reported statements about my making donations equal to the cost of this event. News reporting should be grounded in supported and confirmed facts, not mis-quoted comments and outright falsehoods.

    This is another fine example of "don't believe everything you read in the newspaper".

    November 18, 2009 at 8:59 p.m.