Special election to fill Blake Farenthold's seat could cost Nueces County $125K

Tim Acosta | Corpus Christi

Show Caption Hide Caption Texas Congressman Blake Farenthold's full resignation announcement This is Congressman Blake Farenthold's full statement announcing his resignation on Friday, April 6. Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, has resigned from Texas' 27th Congressional District following months of controversy over a sexual harassment settlement paid for with taxpayer funds. (Video courtesy of Office of Congressman Blake Farenthold)

Former U.S. Congressman Blake Farenthold has refused to pay for the upcoming special election to fill the seat from which he resigned, meaning taxpayers will be responsible for that cost.

Now, Nueces County taxpayers know how about how much this race will cost them — $125,000.

"That's a lot of money," County Judge Loyd Neal said Wednesday. "It certainly wasn't planned for."

Farenthold resigned April 6 amid growing controversy over the revelation that he had used $84,000 in taxpayer funds to settle a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment from his former communications director. Farenthold has denied any wrongdoing, and initially promised to repay the $84,000, before later backtracking on that statement.

Gov. Greg Abbott wrote Farenthold on April 25 asking him to foot the bill for the special election Abbott called to fill the vacant District 27 seat, since the former congressman had not repaid the $84,000 in settlement money. But Farenthold refused, citing that it was Abbott's decision to call the special election, not his.

More: Blake Farenthold to Texas Governor Greg Abbott: I'm not paying for the special election

The $125,000 total was an estimate provided by the Nueces County Clerk's office during talks about pay for election clerks and judges during a county commissioners court meeting. Most of that estimate — about 80 percent — is made up of labor costs, officials said.

As is the case with the state's Constitutional Elections, the county will be responsible for the entire cost of the special election.

"We're the only (local) entity participating, so the county has to stomach all of this, it looks like," County Commissioner Brent Chesney said.

The cost of the special election is concerning to county officials, particularly since it is an unexpected expenditure in a year that Nueces County and other areas are still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Harvey. The estimate provided on Wednesday does not include any costs associated with a possible runoff for that special election, should that be necessary.

Abbott's decision cited that particular disaster as a reason for his move to call for the June 30 election, since representation in Congress was a necessity for District 27 counties affected by Harvey that are in need of federal aid.

Nine candidates, including the four candidates in the major parties' May 22 runoffs to replace Farenthold, have filed to run in the special election to fill the seat temporarily, according to the Texas Secretary of State's office.

This is a developing story. Check back to Caller.com for updates.

USA Today political reporter John Moritz contributed to this report.

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