Here’s a breakdown of where contributions to Solomon Ortiz’s campaigns have come from since 1989. The original data, from Opensecrets.com, was organized by zip code. I’ve reorganized it geographically into three groups: the Corpus area, the Valley, and others. It is interesting to note that the Congressman has received as much from San Antonio than he has from some Valley zip codes.

Contributions to Solomon Ortiz Reorganized by Region*

78401 (Corpus Christi, TX) $54,000
78411 (Corpus Christi, TX) $103,750
78404 (Corpus Christi, TX) $89,317
78412 (Corpus Christi, TX) $78,000
78413 (Corpus Christi, TX) $74,200
78380 (Robstown, TX) $40,850
78403 (Corpus Christi, TX) $39,350
78410 (Corpus Christi, TX) $37,950
78469 (Corpus Christi, TX) $34,050
78414 (Corpus Christi, TX) $30,300
78418 (Corpus Christi, TX) $28,500
78405 (Corpus Christi, TX) $25,910
$636,177
78216 (San Antonio, TX) $38,700
78209 (San Antonio, TX) $23,250
$61,950
78520 (Brownsville, TX) $79,400
78521 (Brownsville, TX) $63,350
78550 (Harlingen, TX) $41,900
78575 (Olmito, TX) $32,000
78501 (McAllen, TX) $25,450
$242,100

20036 (Washington, DC) $24,500

Grand Total $964,727
The point? Look at the numbers. the Corpus area has contributed close to three times the amount as the Valley towards the Congressman’s well being, if one counts re-election as part of congressional well being. I’ve often heard folks around here complaining that our representation is weak. We all know the old saw, “He who pays the piper calls the tune.” The Valley does contribute, but at a rate that guarantees that our interests, commercial and otherwise– the Ports of Brownsville and Harlingen, for instance– are going to come in second. Which they have, haven’t they?

*Source: Opensecrets.org. http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allzips.asp?CID=N00005998