Contributions for filing period top $20,000

Published Sunday, February 10, 2008

By Brian Knox

With the March primary only a month away, the latest campaign finance reports show continued interest in contested races, particularly for county attorney.

County Attorney candidate James Stainton received the most contributions for the reporting period with $8,200. Contributions included $3,500 from E. McWilliams of Brady, $2,000 each from John Eck of Attica, Kan., and Joe and Diane Stainton of Jonesboro, Ark., $500 from Jean Bishop of Decatur and $100 each from Elizabeth D. Strickler of Decatur and Kendall Hill of Fort Worth. He reported expenditures of $3,892.69.

His opponent, Marilyn Belew, reported $3,250 in contributions. Her contributors included $1,000 from Sandy Bounds of Decatur, $500 each from Paul Belew of Fort Worth, Action Bail Bonds of Denton and Steve Goolsby of Decatur, and $250 each from Xavier Gonzalez, David Singleton and Keith Jenson, all of Fort Worth. She reported $3,425.59 in expenditures.

The third candidate for county attorney, Thomas Aaberg, reported contributions of $2,252.43. His contributions included $750 from Sue Metcalf of Sunset, four separate contributions totaling $652.43 from Brenda Bosecker of Boyd, $250 from Michelle Dobson of Pilot Point, $100 each from Vicki Wiley of Chico, Tera Huffman of Brenham, Kendall Hill of Fort Worth and Richard Green, Charles Green and Addie Ruth Green, all of Bridgeport. His expenditures totaled $2,459.65.

Sheriff David Walker reported contributions of $3,500. His contibutors include Louis Dorfman of Dallas, $2,000; Patrick and Sherry Krebs of Bridgeport, $1,000; and Scott and Barbara Swindell of Decatur, $500. He listed expenditures as $3,573.11.

Walker's opponent, David Allen, reported $250 in contributions and $559.04 in expenditures.

Among the five candidates for Precinct 1 county commissioner, Jim Popp, the lone Democrat, reported the most contributions with $750. He listed expenditures at $750.

Incumbent Robert Rankin reported $170 in contributions, including $100 from Wayne and Lynn Long of Dectatur. His expenditures totaled $312.

Challenger Danny White reported $150 in contributions, including $100 from Gary Taggart of Omaha, Neb., and $50 from Francis Janecka of Decatur. His expenditures totaled $1,025.04. Cory Schwenn reported a $100 contribution from Kevin Downe of Rhome. He listed expenditures at $1,419.78. John Peterson reported no contributions and $2,037.80 in expenditures.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Mikel Richardson reported $250 in contributions and $1,050 in expenditures. No report was on file for his opponent, Democrat Bill Smith.

Other contributions and expenses for candidates include:

Precinct 1 Constable - Democratic incumbent Dennis Hudson reported $600 in contributions with no expenditures. Contributors included $300 from Tracy A. Smith of Greenwood and $100 each from Barsco Enterprises LLC of Fort Worth and Charles Roberts and Tommy T. Edwards, both of Decatur. No report for the filing period was found for his Republican opponent, Tom Bishop.

Precinct 3 Constable - Wingate Kay Williams reported no contributions and $480.38 in expenses. No report was on file for challenger Doug Parr.

Precinct 4 Constable ­- Kevin Huffman reported $600 in contributions and $1,794.14 in expenditures. Contributors included Tim and Lori Livingston of Boyd, $200; and Sid Hodges of Bridgeport, Mike Bement of Runaway Bay and Jerry D. McGee of Weatherford, $100 each. David Shawn reported no contributions and $645.63 in expenditures. Gary Emmert reported no contributions and $323.41 in expenditures.

No campaign finance reports were available for district attorney candidates Greg Lowery, Gerald Hartley or Clinton Phillips.

Campaign finance reports are filed in the office of County Clerk Sherry Parker-Lemon and are public record.