Past as prologue: How to win a city election - Newstreamz Analyzes 2008 Election

Just recently found this article online at Newstreamz the story provides analysis from the 2008 election.

"Incumbent San Marcos Councilmember Chris Jones of Place 4 easily prevailed against challenger Lisa Marie Coppoletta, receiving 6,168 votes to her 4,925. Jones won by carrying north and south side precincts.

Jones carried the traditionally African-American precinct 111 and other south side precincts 113, 116, and 120. Further, Jones carried precinct 315 and swept the north side, carrying 330, 332, 334, 336 and 446. Jones’s top precincts were, in order, 315, 332, 334, and 336."

Coppoletta carried four precincts, all on the south side - 114, 112, 121, and 110.

Coppoletta’s showing could be attributed to her vigorous campaigning and, possibly, to Narvaiz’ strong showing on the south side. Although the campaigns were completely independent of each other, it is possible that Narvaiz’ presence as a female on the ballot helped Coppoletta as another female candidate."

Last of Election Coverage - San Marcos Daily Record

"The Deciders Voters make their voices heard Tuesday" - This is the last article prior to election and still no bio or questions for the public to evaluate the candiates

"Narvaiz wins another term: Jones holds onto council post"
"Returning to the city council with Narvaiz will be Council member Place 4 Christopher Jones, who defeated challenger Lisa Marie Coppoletta by a vote of 6,165 (55.60 percent) to 4,923 (44.40 percent)."

"Narvaiz keeps majority: Provisional ballot check leaves mayoral election results intact"
The election breakdowns from my race not reported, but what is new with the Daily Record?!

City Council election becomes official - University Star

City Council election becomes official
Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Page Two 2008 election San Marcos

"Susan Narvaiz maintained a majority vote in her bid for a third term as Mayor of San Marcos following a review of provisional and overseas ballots Monday by the Early Voting Ballot Board.

The election will become official following the canvassing of election returns by the City Council on at 5 p.m., Monday.

Out of 201 provisional ballots cast in Hays County, 14 qualified to be counted and five of the 14 were City of San Marcos ballots. In addition, 16 ballots were cast by residents who were out of the country, including four who were counted in the city election.

The San Marcos City Charter requires a majority vote (50 percent plus one vote) to elect a member of the City Council.

Following the review Monday, the City Council races in the Nov. 4 election had the following results:

Mayor: Susan Clifford Narvaiz: 6,451 (50.08 percent) Daniel Dan McCarthy 2,563 (19.9 percent) Dave Newman 3,868 (30.03 percent) City Council Place 3: Fred Terry 8,822 (100 percent) City Council Place 4: Lisa Marie Coppoletta 4,925 (44.40 percent) Christopher Jones 6,168 (55.60 percent)

Of the votes counted Monday, Narvaiz picked two additional votes, McCarthy gained one vote and Newman gained one vote."

The rest of the story is located here:
http://star.txstate.edu/content/city-council-election-becomes-official

Mayoral candidates invest finances toward campaign - University Star

Mayoral candidates invest finances toward campaign
Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 10:18 am 

By Theron Brittain
News campaign financing San Marcos elections

"Campaign expenditure reports show mayoral candidates spent thousands of dollars in the months leading up to the Nov. 4 election.

The reports, filed Oct. 27, reveal how much the two candidates, Susan Narvaiz and David Newman, invested in their chances. A third candidate, Dan McCarthy, pledged in August to spend less than $500 during any given reporting period. State law exempted him from filing regular financial reports because of his pledge.

Newman reported $870 in total political contributions for the period roughly covering the end of September to the end of October. He spent $1,351 on his campaign for the same period. Narvaiz, whose election was confirmed Monday, outspent Newman, taking in $4,455 in total political contributions and spending $10,261 in the same period.

Narvaiz received 50.08 percent of the 12,878 votes casted, Newman 30.03 percent and McCarthy 19.89 percent.

Narvaiz and Newman’s campaigns spent the majority of their funds on advertising. Gloria Salazar, campaign treasurer for Narvaiz, said she hoped the extra capital helped make the campaign more effective.

“One of the largest expenses for the campaign was getting the new signs,” Salazar said. “And then we did something that we had not done as much of in the past campaigns — we did continuing advertising with The University Star to try to reach out to the students. We were doing ads weekly.”

Salazar said she was pleased with the financial support the mayor received over the last year, which totaled around $68,000.

“It’s just a real wide range,” Salazar said. “It came from business people. It came from individuals. It came from everywhere. We tried to reach out to all parts of the community.”

Dan Praver, Newman’s campaign treasurer, performs financial services for clients in San Marcos and said there was a one-to-one correlation between advertising and market share. Praver said Newman spent most of his financial resources on advertising, and he listed campaign buttons, printing supplies, paint and hardware as expenses.

“We spent money on spray paint and hardware to put together signs,” Praver said. “We bought some signs from Sign Crafters, and we bought some signs from a company called Super Cheap Signs. In fact, for the first accounting period, that was about a third of where the money went.”

Newman said he spent between $6,000 and $7,000 on his campaign. He provided $3,000 to $4,000 from his own finances.

“I received about half of my campaign finances in contributions and about half of it I put up myself,” said Newman, who ran on his own finances through the end of the election. “I spent about $2,000 in television ads and about $1,000 in printing costs. I spent about $3,000 on campaign signs.”

Newman ran ads on a variety of television channels, including CNN, FOX, ESPN and a few on MTV. Newman said he never had a proper fundraiser but might have held one if a runoff occured.

“We ran a pretty financially-tight campaign,” Newman said. “I was hoping the word was getting out there through the debates and media coverage. I didn’t have the money to saturate the print media like I wanted to. There are some things I think we could have done differently, but within the time frame I think we did most of what we could.”

Chris Jones won re-election to Place 4 on the City Council with 55.6 percent of 11,088 votes cast. Jones reported $3,800 in contributions and spent $854 on his campaign for the month of October. Jones’ opponent, Lisa Marie Coppoletta, operated under the same state exemption as Dan McCarthy. She received 44.4 percent of the vote.

Salazar said funds left over from Narvaiz’s campaign would be used to help defray costs resulting from the mayor’s duties and could be used in future campaigns.

“When you’re in office, and especially for our counsel where they do not get paid, there are expenses they have to incur throughout the term that are not covered,” Salazar said. “There are either out of pocket expenses or, for certain things, they are able to cover them through any monies they have left over from their campaign.”

Newman said he used all his contributions in the race."

Narvaiz keeps majority in provisional vote tally - San Marcos Mercury

Narvaiz keeps majority in provisional vote tally
Posted on 10 November 2008
From the city of San Marcos

"Susan Narvaiz maintained a majority vote in her bid for a third term as the San Marcos mayor following a review of provisional and overseas ballots Monday by the Early Voting Ballot Board.
The election will become official following the canvassing of election returns by the City Council on Monday, November 17 at 5 p.m.

Out of 201 provisional ballots cast in Hays County, 14 qualified to be counted and five of the 14 were City of San Marcos ballots. In addition, 16 ballots were cast by residents who were out of the country, including four that were counted in the city election.

The San Marcos City Charter requires a majority vote (50 percent plus one vote) to elect a member of the City Council.

Following the review Monday, the City Council races in the November 4 election had the following results:

Mayor
Susan Clifford Narvaiz: 6,451 (50.08%)
Daniel Dan McCarthy 2,563 (19.9%)
Dave Newman 3,868 (30.03%)

City Council, Place 3
Fred Terry 8,822 (100%)

City Council, Place 4
Lisa Marie Coppoletta 4,925 (44.40%)
Christopher Jones 6,168 (55.60%)

Entire story is available at this link: http://www.sanmarcosmercury.com/archives/4930

University Star Omits Figures in Race

Texas State alumnus wins City Council Place 4
Posted on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 12:29 pm
By Emily Bradford

"The Burleson family invited guests to “make themselves at home” around the television as results came in announcing their friend Chris Jones would serve his second term on City Council Place 4.

Jones beat opponent Lisa Coppoletta by approximately 900 votes.

“I’m excited about this Nov. 4 election because the things I talked about three years ago as a student are becoming reality with Obama on the ticket,” he said.

Jones said the presidential election helped stimulate the election process at all levels.

“I was at the fish hatchery earlier and the voter turnout was a lot of students,” he said."

The rest of the article is located here: http://star.txstate.edu/content/texas-state-alumnus-wins-city-council-place-4-0

Thank You - Post to Facebook and Myspace Users

Thank YOU to everyone for all of YOUR support and positive energy the last month and a half. Considering we spent under $500.00 taking our campaign to the streets, did not even get bio articles from both print media outlets – and received almost 5000 votes and lost by 10% a movement is growing here in San Marcos.

Our internet campaign also proves that individuals are active online spreading the word on important local issues. Two issues I am strongly involved now include a move to a no kill shelter here our community NOW and bringing Texas Film here to San Marcos. Our work has just begun!
Best Wishes, Lisa Marie

Check out our two new groups:

Film San Marcos
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49254080069&ref=mf

Transition to No Kill
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34838193667&ref=mf

Election Returns

All of the election results are here:
http://www.elections.co.hays.tx.us/ElectionReturnsTotals/tabid/109/Default.aspx

South Texas counties election round up - San Antonio Express News

South Texas counties election round up
Web Posted: 11/05/2008 12:38 CST -- Hays County

"In San Marcos, two City Council seats and the mayor’s position were decided. Running unopposed, Fred Terry will replace Daniel Guerrero, who withdrew from the race in August, as councilman.

Incumbent Councilman Christopher Jones, who was the first college student to be elected in 33 years, will return to his council seat after defeating Lisa Marie Coppoletta.

With more than half the votes cast, Mayor Susan Clifford Narvaiz will serve another two years. She defended her seat against retired pilot David Newman and Texas State University student Daniel McCarthy."

The rest of the story is available here: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/South_Texas_Counties.html

Narvaiz, Jones returned to city council - San Marcos Mercury

Narvaiz, Jones returned to city council
Posted on 05 November 2008
by BRAD ROLLINS
Managing Editor

"Voters also returned council member Chris Jones to office with 6,165 votes, 55.6 percent, to Lisa Marie Coppoletta’s 4,923 votes."

The full new story with all returns is available here: http://www.sanmarcosmercury.com/archives/4766

Incumbent San Marcos mayor, council member lead opponents - Austin American Statesman

SAN MARCOS ELECTIONS
Incumbent San Marcos mayor, council member lead opponents
A nonbinding referendum that would extend alcohol sales was headed toward voter approval.
By Andrea Lorenz
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, November 05, 2008

"SAN MARCOS — Voters re-elected the incumbent council member and the sitting mayor and approved a nonbinding resolution to extend alcohol sales hours to 2 a.m.

San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz, 50, defeated challengers Dave Newman, 51, and Texas State University student Daniel McCarthy, 20.

Narvaiz, an owner of a human resources consulting company who is seeking a second term, said, "I've been ahead all evening, so it makes me feel good. But I'm going to remain conscious because every vote does count."

Narvaiz won with 50.1 percent of the vote. She needed more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a run-off with Newman.

Newman is a retired pilot who made international headlines when he was arrested after he rescued a man from the San Marcos River; those charges were later dropped. He said as results came in, his campaign was planning a run-off campaign strategy.

"We're holding our breath here to see what our last precincts say," Newman said.

Council Member Chris Jones, 25, won with 55.6 percent of the vote against challenger Lisa Marie Coppoletta, 40, an instructor at Austin Community College.

"I'm glad the citizens are behind me, and now, it's time to do some work," he said."

The rest of the story is located here: http://www.statesman.com/search/content/news/stories/local/11/05/1105sanmarcos.html