City Council Seat in Irving Goes to a Runoff, While Two Other Races Narrowly Miss Runoff, All Three Contests Marked by Significant PAC Involvement
In the bustling city of Irving, two contenders are set to duke it out in a runoff for the coveted citywide Place 2 seat. The charismatic Sergio Porres, endorsed by Families for Irving PAC, and the steadfast David Pfaff, a long-time resident of Irving, were closest in the initial round of voting, neither securing an outright majority.
The Families for Irving PAC, known for favoring "traditional family values," school choice, and single-family housing, has backed candidates who align with their priorities. This year, they've spent around $15,500 on their candidates. However, another political force made waves in the days leading up to early voting – The Lone Star Conservative Action Fund. This secretive group poured a whopping $93,000 into campaign signs and text messages for the PAC's opponents. But it seems that many Irving residents weren't swayed by the big bucks.
Behind The Lone Star Conservative Action Fund stands Aaron De Leon, the owner and president of Leon Strategies, a consulting firm known for associating with Republican campaigns and the Texans for Opportunity and Prosperity PAC. This PAC has received substantial funding from the resort company Las Vegas Sands, which was seeking a zoning change in Irving earlier this year for a destination resort with a casino element – a detail that almost slipped under the radar. De Leon has yet to comment on these matters.
Interestingly, while the Families for Irving PAC maintains a diplomatic silence on casino gaming, its candidates have been vocal in their opposition to the Las Vegas Sands' proposed project. Candidates like Porres, who believes the casino would "fundamentally change the character of our city," refusing to back the proposal should it become legal. Pfaff, on the other hand, is more reserved, maintaining that the issue is not an immediate concern for the city, and leaving the final decision up to the residents.
The saga of casino gaming in Irving is far from over. But one thing is certain, as the city gears up for the runoff in June, we can expect more fireworks and heated debates over the future of their community. Don't miss the show!
The Lone Star Conservative Action Fund, a political group supporting candidates with conservative views, spent a significant sum of $93,000 on campaign materials for the opponents of the Families for Irving PAC, highlighting the potential impact of policy-and-legislation on casino gaming in Irving. Despite this investment, it appears that many residents of Irving remained undeterred, indicating a possible leaning towards the candidature of Sergio Porres and David Pfaff, both known for their stand on the issue of casino gaming.
