While Republican Dee Margo enjoyed a fundraiser at the Austin Club last night, Democrat Joseph Moody issued a challenge: place a voluntary limit on contributions.

Margo beat incumbent state Rep. Pat Haggerty in the Republican primary for District 78. The numbers look good for Moody, judging from a strictly partisan basis. The money might favor Margo, who will draw on local money-men like Woody Hunt and Paul Foster, although Moody might get help from state Democrats who see a chance to pick up a Republican seat.

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Regarding the money issue, here’s the text of a letter sent by Moody to Margo:

First, congratulations on your victory in the Republican primary. I look
forward to an honorable and spirited campaign.

As you may be aware, I voluntarily placed contribution limits on my campaign for the Democratic nomination in HD 78. As we begin the next phase of the campaign, I ask you to follow those same contribution limits for the General Election. I chose to follow the federal guidelines in the
Primary Election because they represent the same amounts that any one person or PAC can give to someone running for President of the United States. If these campaign contribution limits are good enough for the Leader of the Free World, shouldn’t they be good enough for District 78?

We have the unique opportunity to regain the respect of El Paso voters and set a new standard of honesty and transparency for Texas. I hope you will join me in returning integrity to the election process and making El Pasoans proud of a dignified and respectful campaign for State Represenative District 78. The people of El Paso deserve no less.

Respectfully yours,
Joseph Moody
Democrat for State Representative District 78

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Margo, reached at his fundraiser, said in response to the challenge that “I’m a believer in free speech.”

He, in turn, challenged Moody to “forbid any other outside organization from committing any more funding. I can say I’m not going to accept more than ten bucks a head, then have these outside groups come in and run a campaign extraneous to that.”

Margo, whose fundraiser was co-hosted by state Rep. Tom Craddick and state Sen. Craig Estes, spent more than $300,000 in his primary battle. Moody, by contrast, spent less than $20,000.

Margo threw in a little jab at Moody, whose father is a state district judge: “With his position, his dad being a judge, it may be that (voluntary contribution cap) is a prudent move.”