Wallets open as election draws near **UPDATED**

Updated Feb. 27, 2014

Candidates file final spending reports

By LPR Staff

Editor/POST-REGISTER

With only a week left to go until the March 4 Primary Elections, candidates have made the final push in spending in an attempt to win either their office, or a spot on November’s general election ballot.

Democratic Party candidate for Caldwell County Judge

Fermin Islas is leading the way in both fundraising and spending, with an estimated $3,365 raised, including a large donation of $1,500 from Mrs. H.T. Wright. During this reporting period, Islas reported spending $3,245.41.

Of that total, $1,085.62 was for local print advertising, $685.53 was for graphic design and $173.20 was for printing. Islas also noted a $920 expenditure to the United States Postal Service for campaign mailers.

His primary opponents, James “Jimmy” Bertram and Paul Gomez did not have eight-day reports on file. Republican candidate for County Judge Kenneth Schawe is not required to file a report, because he is unopposed in his Primary race.

Fred Weber, who is running on the Democratic Party ticket for Caldwell County District Attorney reported $2,500 in campaign fundraising and $3,022.26 in spending.

In addition to several small cash donations, Weber reported receiving financial support from Arnold Garcia in the amount of $600, and also $500 from Dollie Cole.

Weber noted a $750 donation to the Luling Livestock Show, and $1,185 in local print advertising. He also spent money to host a campaign event in Luling, and reported $381.04 in printing expenses.

Opponent Richard Banks has not filed a report since Feb. 4, 2014, which indicates spending through Feb. 28, 2014.

In the race for Caldwell County Commissioner for Precinct 2, Susan Stewart reported collecting $574.20 and spending $479.48, while Chuck Cutshall collected $300 and spent $161.50, and Eddie Moses collected $500 and spent $484.27.

If candidates’ spending or campaign contributions are less than $500 for the filing period, they are not required to file itemized spending reports.

Polls are open throughout Caldwell County from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4.

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Earlier:

By LPR Staff

Editor/POST-REGISTER

With time running out for the 2014 March Primary Election, many local candidates have increased their spending in a final push toward victory, according to records filed with the Caldwell County Clerk’s Office this week.

In the most hotly-contested race, the Democratic Party race for Caldwell County Judge, two of the four candidates filed campaign expense reports by the Feb. 3, 2014 deadline for filing said reports, 30 days prior to the primary election.

Would-be Democratic Party nominee Paul Gomez was the leading spender in the most recent filing period, logging $5,769.88 worth of expenses, while collecting $760 in campaign contributions.

The bulk of Gomez’s expenses were incurred locally, with $4,838.18 being spent at LazR signs for signage, and $861 spent on other local advertising.

Gomez collected a $500 donation from Angel Gomez, in addition to other donations.

Another Democratic Party hopeful is Fermin T. Islas, who reported collecting $1,140 in campaign contributions while spending $2,173.13 for various campaign expenses.

Islas, too, spent most of his money at home, with a $500 payment to Christian Cisneros for advertising design, and $966.68 to LasR Signs. Islas also spent around $100 at Printing Solutions for various advertising and equipment.

Islas reported donations from several sources, but none over the $500 threshhold.

The third Democrat on the ballot, James “Jimmy” Bertram did not have a 30-day report on file as of press time, nor did unopposed Republican candidate Kenneth Schawe.

The race for Caldwell County District Attorney, which will be vacated by Trey Hicks at the end of this year, will be decided in the Democratic Party Primary, where current Lockhart city council member Richard Banks is squaring off with Hays County First Assistant DA Fred Weber.

Banks and Weber are nearly even in spending, with Banks showing an outlay of $2,276.10 and Weber reporting spending $2,228.53.

Banks also reported no campaign contributions during the reporting period, but does show loan proceeds of $18,427.14. Weber, on the other hand, collected $900 in contributions, including a $500 donation from Amelia Smith, of Lockhart.

Weber spent $2,136.96 with Printing Solutions for campaign materials, and another $350 as a donation to Caldwell County Go-Texan’s scholarship fund.

Banks spent $525.01 with Printing solutions, and donated $90 to the Progressive Club. He also spent $211.90 at Logo’s, and reports expenses totaling $1,450 to Gabriel Salazar, of San Antonio, for “contract labor.”

In the race for Precinct 4 Commissioner, incumbent Democrat Joe Roland is running unopposed on the Primary ballot, and will not face a challenge until November, from Republican Darrel Scott. Neither candidate had a 30-day spending report on file, leading up to the Primary.

Precinct two Republican incumbent Fred Buchholtz will face a November challenge from one of four Democratic Party hopefuls. Buchholtz did not file a campaign expense report during this filing period, but most of his would-be opponents did.

Charles “Chuck” Cutshall reported spending $557.31 and collecting $600 in campaign contributions, the bulk in the form of a $500 donation from Mitzy McCorvey, of Houston.

Cutshall’s main expense was signs, which he bought at Austin’s SuperCheapSigns.com for $246.70. He also spent $125.89 at WalMart and $134.72 at Office Depot.

Second-time candidate Eddie Moses reported collecting only $168.92 and spending $96.08, which he spent at G&C Printing, of Round Rock.

Susan Stewart’s reports contributions of $392 and expenses of $235.06.

Stewart spent $160.13 at VistaPrint, $29.98 with Office Depot and $26.79 at Printing Solutions, along with several other small, local expenditures.

The fourth candidate, O.J. Wade, of Luling, did not have a report on file.

The candidates are required to file another campaign expense report seven days prior to the elections. Follow future editions of the Post-Register for information on campaign spending, as well as for sample ballots and other information on the March 4, 2014, Primary Election.