Early unofficial results are trickling in for three Irving City Council seats in a race that saw political action committees spend more than $100,000 to support candidates.
In the race for At-Large Place 2, David Pfaff led in early tallies in a four-candidate field. Just behind him was Sergio Porres, followed by Vicky Akinyi Oduk and Mark Zeske as of 10:20 p.m.
In District 1, incumbent John Bloch had a slight lead over Tony Grimes, while in District 7, the two candidates were neck-and-neck with Adam Muller ahead of Priscilla Vigliante by less than 15 votes.
One political action committee in Irving is hoping to back a majority of the city council.
The Families for Irving PAC — whose principles include “traditional family values," school choice, and single-family housing — backed Bloch, Porres and Muller. Two current city council members — Luis Canosa and Mark Cronenwett — have also been backed by the Families for Irving PAC.
The Families for Irving PAC spent around $15,500 on its candidates this year. In the days before early voting, an organization called the Lone Star Conservative Action Fund poured $93,000 into campaign signs and text messages for the PAC's opponents.
The Lone Star Conservative Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization. That classification allows it to legally not disclose its donors.
However, the group's principal officer is Aaron De Leon, owner and president of consulting firm Leon Strategies. The consulting firm has worked with Republican campaigns along with the Texans for Opportunity and Prosperity PAC, which received tens of thousands of dollars from the resort company Las Vegas Sands. De Leon has not responded to KERA’s requests for comment.
Las Vegas Sands wanted a zoning change approved in Irving earlier this year to allow for a destination resort with a casino gaming element.
While the Families for Irving PAC does not have an official stance on casino gaming, its candidates were vocal in their opposition to Las Vegas Sands.
Got a tip? Email Megan Cardona at mcardona@kera.org.
KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider making a tax-deductible gift today. Thank you!
