AUSTIN — Democrat Chris Bell of Houston lost his 2006 election challenge to Gov. Rick Perry, but financial reports released Friday show he won $426,000 in a lawsuit settlement from Perry's campaign over what he had claimed were illegal political donations.
Perry's campaign in the final days of the 2006 election received a $1 million donation from the Republican Governor's Association without disclosing the source of the RGA money.
After a Houston Chronicle report in January 2007 showed the money likely came from Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, no relation to the governor, Bell sued the RGA, Perry's campaign and campaign treasurer Richard Box.
Perry's campaign finance report, released Friday, showed the governor's political fund paid Bell $426,000 on March 3 to settle the lawsuit.
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http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Perry-paid-426-000-settlement-to-Bell-over-1715769.php