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Campaign finance reports total $21,716 so far [San Angelo Standard-Times, Texas :: ](San Angelo Standard-Times (TX) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) April 12--SAN ANGELO, Texas -- The first set of campaign finance reports show the May 10 city election candidates have raised about $21,716 so far. Most of that is distributed between three candidates. Topping out with $12,100 in political contributions is Single Member District 5 candidate Elizabeth Grindstaff, former assistant city manager and current vice president of sales and marketing at Texas Pacifico Railroad in San Angelo. Grindstaff's campaign finance reports read like a who's who of San Angelo, showing local well known members of the community such as Lee Pfluger, John Mark McLaughlin, Devin Bates, John David Fields, Jr. and Steve Stephens. Major contributors to Grindstaff's campaign include June Turner Doggett, who gave $5,000 and Fred Key, who gave $1,000. The report, which was due to the city clerk's office on Thursday, covers contributions and expenses from February through March. The report doesn't show any political expenditures because bills for advertising expenses came in after March 31, Grindstaff's campaign treasurer Brad Fly said. Fly said Friday that subsequent bills paid for campaign expenses totaled about $4,450. Coming in second on campaign funds is SMD 3 incumbent Johnny Silvas, who is making a run for his third term. Silvas raised $4,830 according to the finance reports, and so far has spent about $1,666. Silvas received a total of $2,000 from Juan Flores, a franchise owner of Twin Peaks. Flores filed his contributions under WTRG-SA and Romadal Limited. Silvas also received $500 each from Gary Cortese, Lee Pfluger and Tony Jones. Close behind Silvas in campaign contributions is local realtor Rodney Fleming, who was elected to a partial term serving SMD 1 and is campaigning for re-election to a full term. Fleming received $4,236 in contributions, according to his Thursday campaign finance report. Fleming received his largest contribution from the San Angelo Police Officer Political Action Committee, which gave him $1,000. The group also contributed to Fleming's campaign last year. Representatives from the group could not be reached by telephone Friday. Other large donors to Fleming's campaign include Tony Jones Oil and Gas, David Jensen and Freeman Pickett, who each gave $500. According to the finance report, Fleming has spent about $1,259 on his campaign so far. Former councilman and SMD 3 Richard Bastardo, Sr. comes in next with $400 in funds from sole contributor Rexy Zipper, owner of Angelo Collision autobody repair shop. According to the report, Bastardo took out a $1,500 loan for his campaign expenses and so far has spent about $1,196. Trinidad Aguirre, Jr., retired Verizon executive who ran against Fleming for the SMD 1 seat last year as well, received total campaign contributions of $150 from Christopher Cornell, manager of business development at Reece Albert. Aguirre took out a $2,945 loan and so far has spent $3,094 on his campaign. Aguirre said he will self-fund the campaign until he has "demonstrated to all donors that he is 100 percent committed to winning." This way, he said, his donors will be assured he is the best candidate for the SMD 1 council seat. Philip Skinner, owner of Best Texas Tees who will run for the SMD 5 seat against Grindstaff, has not reported any campaign contributions so far in his report that was due Thursday. The report shows he has spent $312 on his campaign. Political newcomer Eugenio Ismael Garcia, a former U.S. Marine who works for TriCorps Security, shows no political contributions or expenditures in his Thursday campaign finance reports. Each of these candidates will be running for full, two-year terms in their districts. Early voting begins April 28. Election day is May 10. ___ (c)2014 the San Angelo Standard-Times (San Angelo, Texas) Visit the San Angelo Standard-Times (San Angelo, Texas) at www.gosanangelo.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |