PRINT THIS PAGE | E-MAIL THIS PAGE

Thursday, April 24, 1997

Top mayoral candidate's campaign bogged down by controversy

By EDUARDO MONTES

Associated Press Writer

EL PASO, Texas (AP) - Not so long ago, City Councilman Raymond Telles looked ready to sweep into the El Paso mayor's office almost unimpeded.

The two-term representative was considered a prohibitive favorite in the May 3 election. Then came the revelation that Telles campaign documents were stored in his City Hall computer, a possible violation of state law. A police raid followed. A grand jury investigation was launched.

Even though the panel declined to indict Telles this week, the scandal cost him precious momentum.

"Where it had looked like he was the heir apparent, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore," said Gregory Rocha, political science professor at the University of Texas-El Paso. "He can't take anything for granted anymore."

Rocha and others following the race said they can't yet gauge the effect that the computer probe had on Telles' campaign to succeed Mayor Larry Francis, who isn't seeking re-election. But they agree the controversy and other problems have eroded a once-comfortable lead.

An El Paso Times-KVIA-TV poll released in March showed 40 percent of registered voters favored Telles, compared to 21 percent backing former mayor's aide Carlos Ramirez. Only 5 percent backed the third candidate, John Ogaz, who has done little campaigning. The other 34 percent were unsure.

The poll surveyed 305 people and had a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percentage points.

"It's a hell of a lot tighter now," pollster Bill Kaigh said. "I thought it was going to be a foregone conclusion that Telles was going to be elected. It appears Ramirez may have gotten what he needed most and that was a screw-up by his opponent."

Besides dealing with the computer controversy, Telles' campaign has disclosed that it received $3,500 in contributions from two convicted felons.

He pointed out the men were longtime supporters and said he didn't see anything wrong with taking their money, especially since it isn't illegal to do so.

The Federal Election Commission has also been investigating the funding of a Mexican newspaper supplement backing Telles. The advertisement was distributed in copies of the Diario de Juarez and appears to have been partially paid for by a Mexican businessman.

Federal law prohibits foreign contributions to U.S. candidates.

Telles said his only involvement with the supplement was to grant an interview that he thought would be used for a regular newspaper article.

Regarding the computer probe, Telles initially disavowed any knowledge of the files but ultimately acknowledged he entered one himself - a script for a television commercial. He and said a secretary was responsible for two others.

Using government-owned equipment or materials for political purposes is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and-or a fine.

Telles said he felt vindicated by the grand jury's decision Tuesday, which concluded the investigation was politically motivated. The panel criticized the current mayor, a Ramirez backer who revealed the existence of the documents, and the media's handling of the case.

"I think that from this date forward the momentum is going to continue to grow," Telles said.

Still, observers say Telles will likely continue to be dogged by the past and now faces the challenge of making up the ground he has lost.

"There's a pattern there that people might be starting to wonder about," Rocha said. "It just seems there's this recurring set of concerns that are raised about him."

Ramirez concedes that may be part of the reason his campaign is now attracting more volunteers. But he won't attribute his newfound support entirely to Telles' woes.

"I would say that our campaign is paying results and I believe our message is getting out," he said. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: