Spending hits stride as election nears

By LPR Staff

Editor/POST-REGISTER

With only two weeks until polls open for Early Voting, and less than a month until Election Day, local candidates are doubling down on their efforts to win their races. With that final push, for many, comes increased spending.

This week, many candidates filed campaign finance reports detailing thei

r spending and fundraising activities as of mid-October.

In what has become known as the longest-running and most hotly-contested race on the Caldwell County ballot, incumbent Sheriff Daniel C. Law reported having collected $1,871.11 in campaign contributions, while spending $2927.08.

Most of Law’s expenditures were in the form of advertising, with $1,455.31 being paid to Super Cheap Signs, and other expenses to local farm and ranch supply stores for equipment needed to install the signs. Additionally, Law noted a donation of $370 to the McMahan Volunteer Fire Department.

Law’s challenger, Republican Ray Chandler, did not have a 30-day report on file at press time.

The other county-wide race on the ballot, for Caldwell County Tax Assessor-Collector pits incumbent Darla Law against challenger Debbie Cortez Sanders.

Law reported no campaign contributions, but noted $413 in spending, including $138 to Lockhart-based Printing Solutions for campaign materials. She also purchased equipment at local farm and ranch supply stores, and noted $85 in fuel expenses.

Sanders, on the other hand, reported collecting $3,300 in campaign contributions, including $1,000 from the Republican Party of Texas, and $2,000 from Robert Duda.

Sanders spent $1,034.30 with locally-based LasR Signs, and another $1,081.90 with Super Cheap Signs. She also reported payment to Martindale’s LSA Consulting, for a consulting fee, and $102 to the US Postal Service for mailings.

Candidates for the Precinct One Commissioners’ seat reported ramped-up spending, as well.

Incumbent Democrat Alfredo Munoz filed a report noting $5,747.50 in expenses, much of that related to food service and campaign events. Additionally, Munoz noted donations to several local organizations, including the Greater Caldwell County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Evening with the Authors. He spent $461 with Printing Solutions for campaign materials, and noted $725 in advertising costs to local media.

Republican challenger Hoppy Haden reported collecting $1,850 in contributions, while spending $1,506.90.

Haden said he received $750 from the Caldwell County Republican Party, and made a $1,000 personal contribution to his campaign. He also paid $808.90 to Printing Solutions for campaign materials, and $700 in advertising costs to local media.

Incumbent Precinct Three Commissioner Ernesto “Neto” Madrigal reported having collected $1,450 in contributions, and spending $2,641.75.

Madrigal received a $500 contribution from Frank Sughrue, and another $400 from Byron and Jodie Friedrich.

He spent $1,702.24 with Sign Arts for campaign signs, and around $175 for equipment to install the signs. He also noted donations to the Martindale Volunteer Fire Department, and the Fentress Fall Festival River Run.

His challenger, Ed Theriot, reported collecting $5,765 in contributions and spending $3,369.63.

Once again, Robert Duda came through with a large donation, $2,000 into Theriot’s campaign. Additionally, Republican Party of Texas chipped in with $1,000, and the Caldwell County Republican Party donated $500.

Theriot spent $1,592.77 with Printing Solutions for campaign materials and $225 on advertising.

He also paid a consulting fee of $510 to LSA.

In the race for the Lockhart Independent School District Board of Trustees, several candidates also noted their spending during this filing period.

Incumbent Carl Cisneros filed a modified report, showing only $70 in contributions and no spending. His challenger, Beverly Anderson, also filed a modified report, noting $198 in collections and $300 in un-itemized spending.

In the District Two race, Miguel Islas reported collecting $3,535 and spending $2,662.37. Islas spent $1,714.07 with Printing Solutions, and $14.70 at LasR Signs.

His opponent, Brenda Spillmann, did not have a 30-day spending report on file at press time.

First time political candidate Bobby Herzog reported collecting $1,640 in contributions and spending $981.04. He opted not to itemize his expenditures.

Rebecca Lockhart, a former Trustee, reported spending $1,361.78 on her campaign thus far. Lockhart spent $2,247.60 with Super Cheap Signs, and another $260 on other equipment and materials.

Warren Burnett reported collecting $110 and spending $528.96 on signs, though his report did not reflect the vendor he chose for his sign expenses.

Three candidates for Lockhart City Council filed 30-day spending reports, according to City Secretary Connie Constancio. The others on the ballot, she said, filed modified reporting intentions when they filed for their places on the ballot.

District Two incumbent John Castillo reported collecting $1,450 in contributions and spending $578. His largest itemized expense was paid to Allied Advertising, for campaign signs, in the amount of $410.

Timoteo “Tim” Juarez, Jr., reported collecting $1,660 in campaign contributions, and spending $1,310. Juarez purchased signs from Allied Advertising in the amount of $1,201.68, and paid other copying and advertising expenses.

Louis A. Cisneros said he did not collect any contributions, but spent $1,560 with Printing Solutions for political signs.

As the election draws near, the Post-Register will continue to monitor candidate spending, culminating with the seven-day expenditure reports, due Nov. 1. Watch future editions of the Post-Register for additional information, including sample ballots and early voting information.