Below is the full text of the Chronicle story today on Melissa's success in drawing support from an enormous cross-section of Houston. Together, we've raised over $100,000 - more than every other opponent in the race combined! Still, with a large number of candidates on the ballot, we can't leave anything to chance on Election Day. Vote early if at all possible and be sure to remind your friends, family, and coworkers to vote by May 12th.

Noriega 'favorite' for City Council
Lawmaker's wife has raised most funds
By MATT STILES
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Melissa Noriega remains the top fundraiser in the campaign for next month's special election to fill an at-large seat on City Council.

Campaign records filed with the city show that Noriega, a special projects manager with the Houston Independent School District, raised more than $100,000, about four times as much as her two closest competitors.

Noriega, wife of state Rep. Rick Noriega, D-Houston, also has more than $50,000 in the bank for the May 12 contest to replace Shelley Sekula-Gibbs. That is 10 times what other candidates have left to spend.

"She's the prohibitive favorite — no ifs, ands or buts about it," said professor Jon Taylor, chairman of political science at the University of St. Thomas.

Noriega, who's received the endorsement from the Houston Police Officers' Union, said she's honored by the support.

"As important as the money is, it's also how many places I've been, how many people I've met and how many hands I've shaken," she said.

Others in the field of 11 candidates were quick to note that they will compete.

Noel Freeman, a city public works employee, pulled in $24,093, with about $1,200 in the bank.

"I am very proud of all the contributions," said Freeman, a former U.S. Air Force signals analyst who is president of the local Log Cabin Republicans.

Roy Morales, a retired Air Force officer who ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 2005, raised $24,000.

After Noriega, former Houston police officer Tom Nixon, who lost his job after criticizing the department's policy on vehicle chases, had the most money in the bank: about $5,000. He raised about $8,700.

Alfred Molison, co-chair of the Harris County Green Party, raised $1,600, with $1,300 remaining. Andy Neill, a business consultant, and Kendall Baker, a supervisor for the city's 311 Service Helpline call center, filed reports indicating they had not raised any contributions.

David Goldberg, a high school senior, and Sara Owen-Gemoets, a retired minister, both have indicated that they don't intend to raise enough money to trigger the filing requirements.

Reports for Ivan Mayers, a former energy executive, and Anthony Dutrow, a meatpacker and perennial candidate, were not yet on file.