District 9 council hopeful Misty Spears’ personal finances have become a matter of discussion in the runoff. Credit: Facebook / Misty Spears

Add one more financial dispute to the list surrounding District 9 City Council candidate Misty Spears.

A May 22 suit filed against Spears in Bexar County Justice of the Peace Court alleges she owes $4,164 on a Capitol One credit card that she opened in 2014 and later stopped making payments on. In its claim, debt collector Midland Credit Management, which purchased the debt last year, accuses Spears of having “refused and failed to remit” payment on the overdue bill.

Spears’ campaign told the Current the candidate is unaware of the suit and hasn’t yet been served. A consultant for the campaign also accused Midland Credit of playing dirty in the timing of its claim. 

The suit comes as Spears, a GOP activist, closes in on a June 7 runoff against Angi Taylor Aramburu, a former Democratic candidate for the Texas House. The pair are vying fill the District 9 seat being vacated by John Courage, who’s termed out.

While Spears, who has an accounting degree, has campaigned as a “back to basics” conservative focused on government accountability, critics argue her own finances raise questions whether she’s equipped to deliver. Indeed, a website called mistydidnotpay.com materialized during the campaign, posting public records highlighting Spears’ past fiscal tangles.

Spears and husband, Adrian Spears, a justice on the Fourth Court of Appeals, were hit with multiple federal tax liens from 2009 through 2013, along with a separate 2014 lien alleging they failed to pay dues to the Woods of Encino Park Homeowners Association, records show. All the liens have since been settled, according to the San Antonio Report.

Further, a Bexar County District Court issued a judgement against Spears on March 17 in a legal fight with Discover Bank over $8,997 in credit card debt she allegedly left unpaid. The court vacated the judgment the following day.

Christian Anderson, a campaign consultant for Spears, told the Current via email that Midland Credit’s choice sue Spears in the weeks leading up to the runoff smacks of political sabotage.

“Let’s be clear: the timing of this lawsuit is highly suspicious,” Anderson said. “It’s a last-minute political smear — and voters deserve to know the truth.”

Anderson also accused Midland Credit of being a “predatory third-party debt buyer” known for cutthroat collection practices and harassment.

“It’s a blatant attempt to weaponize their efforts, and she’s not going to stand for it,” he added.

Midland is a subsidiary of California-based Encore Capital Group, one of the nation’s largest debt collection firms. In 2020, the company agreed to pay $15 million in penalties and offer $79,308.81 in redress to consumers to settle a lawsuit from a federal watchdog accusing it of failing to abide by terms of a 2015 settlement over its debt-collection tactics.

However, in its suit against Spears, Midland Credit said it “works with consumers in an effort to find mutually beneficial solutions, often offering discounts, hardship plans and payment options.” The company also said it backs away from collections when it recognizes that a debtor’s extreme financial hardship would prevent it from being able to receive money.

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This article appears in May 29 – Jun 11, 2025.

Sanford Nowlin is editor-in-chief of the San Antonio Current. He holds degrees from Trinity University and the University of Texas at San Antonio, and his work has been featured in Salon, Alternet, Creative...