The Collin County Observer

News, Analysis & Opinion for Collin County

State Legislative Races: Campaign contributions

01/20/10

Permalink 11:30:37 pm, by bill Email , 377 words,   English (US)
Categories: Guest Opinions

State Legislative Races: Campaign contributions

All candidates for public office in Texas are required to file periodic campaign finance reports listing their contributors and expenses. The January semi-annual report was due on January 15, 2010. It covers all contributions and expenses from July 1 through December 31.

Candidates for the Texas Legislature are required to file their reports electronically with the Texas Ethics Commission in Austin. These reports can be accessed by voters with a simple search tool.

In furthering the interests of open and fair campaigns, The Collin County Observer is publishing summaries of the state legislative candidates' filings.

Listed here are the contributions, expenses, and campaign account balance as of December 31. Also listed are any loan balances to the campaign.

To help the voter judge where a candidate gets support, also detailed are any contributions of $1,000 or more.

Collin County is represented by 4 Texas Legislators whose districts are include large portions of the county. Our state legislators are elected for 2 year terms. This year only one state representatives position is contested - District 66. Jerry Madden, Ken Paxton and Jodie Laubenberg are the 3 incumbent state representatives who are running uncontested in both the primary and general elections.

District 66 encompasses west Plano, generally west of Custer and south of SH 121. Brian McCall has served as the representative for District 66 since 1991. He recently announced his retirement, setting the stage for a contested primary.

Texas Legislature - District 66

MABRIE GRIFFITH JACKSON

http://www.mabriejackson.com/

Contributions July - Dec. $41,466
Expenditures July - Dec. $14,281
Campaign account balance Dec. 31 - $106,635
Loans - $80,000

Major contributors (+- $1,000):
Harry Bauge - $1,000
Blackridge - $1,000
Bruce Gibson - $1,000
Nan Griffin - $1,000
Allyn Harris - $1,200
Nancy Harvard - $1,000
Hillco PAC - $1,000
Martin and Mack Jackson - $1,000
Bill Kramer - $1,000
Charles Kramer - $1,000
Michael Loehr - $1,000
Mabrie Jackson for City Council - $2,441
David McCall - $2,500
Jenny McCall - $1,000
Andy Pierce - $1,000
Bobby Ray - $2,500
Joe Rice - $5,000
TEXPAC-Tx Medical Association PAC - $1,500

-----------------

WAYNE S. RICHARD

http://www.standwithwayne.com/

Contributions July - Dec. $104,772
Expenditures July - Dec. $15,736
Campaign account balance Dec. 31 - $106,635
Loans - $4,731

Major contributors (+- $1,000):
Scott Conrad (in-kind) - $2,100
Sharon Ketko - $1,500
LEAD Enterprises LLC (in-kind) - $50,000
Jason Luse (in-kind) - $7,500
Peter Morrison (in-kind) - $11,433
Peter Morrison - $1,200
Paul Owens (in-kind) - $21,332
Patricia Richard - $2,000

-----------------------------

VAN TAYLOR

http://www.vantaylor.com/

Contributions July - Dec. $18,835
Expenditures July - Dec. $83,524
Campaign account balance Dec. 31 - $15,311
Loans - $80,000

Major contributors (+- $1,000):
Louis Beecherl - $1,000
Micheal George - $1,000
John V. Lattimore - $5,000
John Tatum - $1,000
Nicholas Taylor - $10,000

-----------------------------

In this series on campaign finance reporting:

The Races for County Chair

District Court races: Campaign contributions

Bill

PermalinkPermalink 17 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: MikeO [Visitor] Email · http://datatroll.wordpress.com
You organize this stuff very well, Bill. And the more people know about this stuff, the better. Many thanks from a proud 'zealot'. :)
PermalinkPermalink 01/20/10 @ 23:59
Comment from: Collin County Citizen [Visitor] Email
This is very interesting. Bill, thanks for the information. Any information on Van Taylor's campaign contributions? Surely he'd dumping tons of money into this race.

My first observation that Wayne's seemingly enormous campaign fund is mostly through "in kind" donations. This could be providing space, vehicles in a parade, or a whole host of things - and its mainly valued at whatever the candidate says. Without contribution limits, candidates are free to name their price. Mainly, I think its a means by which Wayne is padding his campaign finance reports to appear like he has more support and donors than he actually does. In kind contributions are often not listed since its so hard to keep up with the value of every contribution a supporter or volunteer makes. For example, how much is 5 hours of neighborhood walking valued at?

Secondly is Jon Cole's repayment of a six figure loan to Cedar Creek Canyon? Seriously? Anyway... the 30 day report will be much more telling. I don't think it bodes well for Jon that he's running against again Jerry so soon - even if he did come close last time. He will go far, but I'm not sure it will be as the rep for District 66.
PermalinkPermalink 01/21/10 @ 00:43
Comment from: bill [Member] Email
CCC,

oops! Thank you for noting my omission of Mr. Taylor. My error.

I have corrected the post.

Bill
PermalinkPermalink 01/21/10 @ 01:30
Comment from: anon [Visitor] Email
[Bill notes that Carla McCroan wrote the Observer to say that she does not know Mr. Richard, does not own the LLP listed and has never given any money to the campaign. Anonymous is either lying or confused.]

Wayne has $50,000 from Carla McCroan listed as an in-kind contribution for campaign management. If we'd only known the market for campaign management we'd all be rich. Maybe it's time for a career change.

What a joke. But at least it's consistent with the rest of his campaign tactics.
PermalinkPermalink 01/21/10 @ 07:06
Comment from: Collin County Attorney [Visitor] Email
Collin County Citizen - I was about to post the same observation about Wayne Richard and his "in kind" donations. Sure, that game is played a lot - with "in kind" donations - but usually not to the toon of $50,000. Seriously!!

Obviously he was padding his donations to make it appear that he has a lot of supporters. He also does this on his mailers and website when he has quotations made by him documented in some type of treatise - when said treatise is some other internet screed written by Wayne Richard himself.

Well, it looks like the Tea Party astroturf theory has legs - make it appear to be grass roots - when it really isn't. Smoke and mirrors people. Smoke and mirrors.
PermalinkPermalink 01/21/10 @ 07:44
Comment from: COLLIN COUNTY ATTORNEY [Visitor] Email
Forgot to mention another notable "contribution" listed on Wayne Richard's financial report:

Paul Owens - $10K - "in kind" donation for, wait for it, "organizing walk."

Seriously - don't volunteers do that? If people are getting paid ten large for that - I'm in!
PermalinkPermalink 01/21/10 @ 07:59
Comment from: Eric Barna [Visitor] Email
Lots of PAC and special interest money in a couple of those reports!

But I agree with the other commented the real reports come next month.
PermalinkPermalink 01/21/10 @ 08:30
Comment from: Allen Resident [Visitor] Email
Are you sure Mr. Cole is running? He isn't listed on the Ballot order on the Republican party website.
PermalinkPermalink 01/21/10 @ 10:28
Comment from: bill [Member] Email
Allen Resident,

Thank you very much!

I checked. While Mr. Cole did indicate his intent to run, and filed finance reports, it seems that he did NOT file and so will not be on the Republican ballot.

I have removed all information on the District 67 race, since it is uncontested.

I apologize for my error. (But I'm very glad you caught it)

I just received this email from Mr. Cole:

Hey, Bill. Just saw your post. I am not a candidate for D. 67. It is true that I explored a second race, but a new business venture has taken too much of my time to engage at this point. That is why I have returned the $100k loan to the campaign. Thanks for following us.

Jonathan R. Cole, J.D.


Bill
PermalinkPermalink 01/21/10 @ 10:42
Comment from: Davis Standard [Visitor] Email
What I find interesting is that when you look at the difference between a candidate and an incumbent, the difference you see is SPECIAL INTEREST. It's a great part of the political process and it results in the deep joy of unseating an 'Establishment' person.

When I look at Mabrie's report, what I find interesting is that the TEA people are all over John Muns for being the West Plano 'Establishment' choice. I want you to compare the endorsement/donation list of Mabrie and John...look pretty similar huh?
PermalinkPermalink 01/21/10 @ 10:44
Comment from: Davis Standard [Visitor] Email
Hovnanian
PermalinkPermalink 01/21/10 @ 10:45
Comment from: Davis Standard [Visitor] Email
Did Mabrie roll over her funds from her City Council campaign? How does she know that those supporters that she abandoned even want her in this position. She should give that $2,441 back.
PermalinkPermalink 01/21/10 @ 10:48
Comment from: Eric Barna [Visitor] Email
Davis, at the very least she should have donated it to the City Of Plano to help offset the cost of the special election. That way those who didn't contribute but are bearing the cost of the special election cost get something out of it.
PermalinkPermalink 01/21/10 @ 12:10
Comment from: Davis Standard [Visitor] Email
Eric, I agree but didn't know if that was possible in regards to the law on campaign funds, etc.
PermalinkPermalink 01/21/10 @ 16:46
Comment from: Plain Old Democrat [Visitor] Email
Leave it to a Republican candidate to misrepresent info on his campaign finance report. It may be legit to do but it paints the wrong picture. Wonder if Richard supports "in kind" contributions for other things? I 'gree with other posters if I'd known I could get $10 thou a month to out walk lists together, I'd quit my day job.
PermalinkPermalink 01/21/10 @ 20:36
Comment from: Eric Barna [Visitor] Email
Davis, I should have put a little tongue in cheek emoticon to it. I doubt she could have although I don't think the Legislature was thinking about situations like this. I think the OAG would say she couldn't do it.

The law allows for:

1. Giving the donations to the party the candidate was affiliated with.
2. A recognized non-profit organization formed for education, science, religious purposes.
3. Some other candidate.
4. Educational institution but only to establish a scholarship.
5. To the comptroller of Texas.
6. Back to the donators ( up to the aggregate donations of the past 2 years.)

You can give the money to the above as long as you (or your family) doesn't receive any "personal benefit" from it (whatever that means.)
PermalinkPermalink 01/22/10 @ 09:57
Comment from: Carla McCroan [Visitor] Email
Imagine my suprise yesterday when I googled my name and saw this blog. I have not given Campaign Manager advice to this candidate. I have never met him. I have been involved in politics for thirty years in Dallas and Collin County and I have never met Wayne Richard. I am surpried his campaign didn't clarify this statement. I also have served as a campaign manager for years and $50,000 is a very inflated figure. I think the ethics commission should address this report. I do not own the LLP that is listed on this report and I hope this clarifies that Carla McCroan did not help in this campaign, but I have helped many other candidates. Truth in politics!
PermalinkPermalink 01/26/10 @ 12:43

Leave a comment:

Your email address will not be displayed on this site.
Your URL will be displayed.

Allowed XHTML tags: <p, ul, ol, li, dl, dt, dd, address, blockquote, ins, del, span, bdo, br, em, strong, dfn, code, samp, kdb, var, cite, abbr, acronym, q, sub, sup, tt, i, b, big, small>
(Line breaks become <br />)
(Set cookies for name, email and url)
(Allow users to contact you through a message form (your email will NOT be displayed.))
This is a captcha-picture. It is used to prevent mass-access by robots.

Please enter the characters from the image above. (case insensitive)

The Collin County Observer

You can observe a lot by just watching.
Yogi Berra

It is my hope that this forum will serve as an acute observer of Collin County government, leading to the return of the county to those it is supposed to serve.

I will post my opinions, fair analysis, news clippings that are relevant to local issues, and your comments.

To post your comment, you may register, or you may post anonymously. Comments will be reviewed before being placed online.

Comments that I consider inappropriate will be deleted, and the commentator warned. All I ask is that discussions remain civil and courteous. The standard for comments here is "common courtesy".

Subscribers will receive an email whenever a new blog entry is posted.

Bill Baumbach

Find more discussion of CCO topics on The Collin County Observer Facebook Group.

Add to Technorati Favorites

TESTIMONIALS

"Love you to death Bill, but you're like a hemmoroid that keeps swelling and won't go away."
Rick Neudorff, past Chair Collin County GOP

"Your premise is wrong, as it often is."
John R. Roach, Collin County District Attorney



Recent Posts

September 2010
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
 << <   > >>
      1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30    

Search




Categories

Files and Links

2006 Bill's Campaign for County Commissioner

County Government

Voting Rights & Education

Indigent Legal Defense

Indigent Healthcare

Texas Legislature

Texas Blogs

Commissioners Blogs

Mobility

2007 Bond Election

2008 Budget

Collin County Discussion Boards

Courts & Judiciary

Collin County Info & Stuff

Community Life, Art & Assistance

News Media

Financial Transparency

2009 Budget

Families & Children

Demographics

2010 Budget

Public Meeting Broadcasts & Videos

2010 Election

2010 Finance Reports

Misc

XML Feeds

What is RSS?

Who's Online?

  • Guest Users: 11

powered by b2evolution free blog software