Clock ticks down to LISD election

By LPR Staff

Editor/POST-REGISTER

As Election Day approaches, the candidates in the special called election to the Lockhart ISD Board of Trustees are making the final push toward the finish line. On Saturday, a vacancy that has been plaguing the district since July 2011 will finally be filled, just in time to end a school year and begin work o

n the next fiscal year budget.

One of four candidates will be chosen by Lockhart voters to fill that seat; three of the four turned in reports this week illustrating what the campaign trail has cost them. Election code requires candidates to report their campaign spending on the eighth day prior to Election Day.

In a filing dated May 4, candidate Jessica Neyman reported having received $750 in campaign contributions, each of which was an unitemized donation of $50 or less. She reported spending $948.29, largely in local advertising, for which she paid $677.25.

Her remaining expense during this reporting period was $271.04 paid to Dirt Cheap Signs, of Lago Vista, for campaign yard signs.

In an earlier filing, Neyman reported collecting $230 in contributions and spending $1,369.60 in campaign expenses, as well as a $245 expense for a “campaign nanny,” which she filed as an out-of-pocket expense which she expects to reimburse from campaign funds.

The eighth-day filing for Raymond Rene Rayos reflects $100 in campaign contributions and $491.70 in expenditures, including $36.32 in un-itemized expenditures of $100 or less.

Rayos reported spending $235.13 for local advertising, and $219.96 in “event expenses,” a portion of which appears to be reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses.

Earlier filings reflect Rayos collected $1,373 in campaign contributions, the bulk being sums less than $50. He said he’d spent $1,218.32, including $648.60 to Austin’s Super Cheap Signs for campaign signage, $531.72 to FedEx for printing expenses and $38 in local advertising.

Rick Womble’s reports show him as the fundraising frontrunner, with $1,809.77 reported on the eighth-day filing. The report shows Womble spent $1,169.44 on his during the same time period, including $110.74 in unitemized expenses.

The lion’s share of Womble’s campaign expenses ($1,165.58) were paid to Printing Solutions, of Lockhart for advertising expenses. Another $367.15 went to Smith Supply, also for advertising expenses, and $178.70 to Sam’s Club for event expenses.

Earlier in the campaign, Womble filed a report reflecting $1,140 in campaign contributions and $760.82 in expenses. $633.01 to Dirt Cheap Signs of Lago Vista.

The fourth candidate in the race, Robert Coster, had not filed any expense reports at press time on Wednesday. Coster has been seen publicly offering an endorsement to another candidate, but had not, at press time, notified LISD election administrators that he had withdrawn from the race.

Early voting ended on Tuesday, and polls in the LISD special called election will be open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 12. Pick up this week”s Post-Register on newsstands for more information on Election Day voting, and watch us on Facebook for election results as they become available on Saturday night.