The candidates for Dallas City Council races filed their final general election campaign finance reports on May 1, eight days before Saturday’s general election. Contributions (how much and from whom) and expenditures (how much and to whom) between 3/31 and 4/29 are reported and available online at the Dallas City Secretary’s web site (http://campfin.dallascityhall.com/) for all citizens to review. These financial reports provide insight into the races not found in campaign literature or candidate forums. What’s behind the numbers?
District 9
Darren Boruff
Cash contributions from March 31- April 29: $19,020
Total contributions since Jan. 1, 2015: $38,480
No. of contributors from March 31- April 29: 46
No. of contributors from Jan. 1, 2015: 91
Personal loans to campaign: $0
Cash in bank on April 29: $0
Behind the Numbers: According to all District 9 candidate filings, since Jan. 1, 2015 Boruff has raised the most capital of any candidate ($38,480) but has the smallest amount in the bank on April 29 ($0). Those are interesting extremes. His $1,100 contribution from the Dallas Citizen’s Council confirms his position as the “establishment” candidate.
Mark Clayton
Cash contributions from March 31- April 29: $14,395
Total contributions since Jan. 1, 2015: $33,485
No. of contributors from March 31- April 29: 53
No. of contributors from Jan. 1, 2015: 128
Personal loans to campaign: $9,600
Cash in bank on April 29: $32,156
Behind the Numbers: According to the District 9 filings, Clayton has the largest number of contributors (128) and the largest amount of capital in the bank on April 29 ($32,156). In a non-partisan race, Clayton is the only District 9 candidate to receive a contribution from a PAC affiliated with a political party — the Stonewall Democrats. The difference in bank account balances between Clayton and the others (especially Boruff) is surprising. What will that mean the last few days of the campaign?
Christopher Jackson
Cash contributions from March 31- April 29: $11,125
Total contributions since Jan. 1, 2015: $27,370
No. of contributors from March 31- April 29: 25
No. of contributors from Jan. 1, 2015: 58
Personal loans to campaign: $10,000
Cash in bank on April 29: $21,323
Behind the Numbers: On the stump, Jackson touts his single-family home building experience and competency in road construction and working with municipalities, so it’s no surprise that the Homebuilders PAC was a $1,000 contributor. Tom Dunning, who ran for mayor against Laura Miller in 2002 and lost, also was a contributor.
Sam Merten
Cash contributions from March 31- April 29: $2,210
Total contributions since Jan. 1, 2015: $7,102
No. of contributors from March 31- April 29: 8
No. of contributors from Jan. 1, 2015: 24
Personal loans to campaign: $0
Cash in bank on April 29: $2,951
Behind the Numbers: Merten’s relative newcomer status to District 9 is evident when comparing his capital raised and number of contributors to other candidates. He does have three very active neighborhood leaders from the east side of the lake, Lee Barron from Braeburn Glen, Mike Nurre from Greater Casa View and Scott Robson from Lochwood, on his list of contributors.
Will Logg
Although Logg completed his filing for the prior period Jan. 1-March 31 on time, there are no filings for the current period. According to Brylon Franklin, City of Dallas Elections Manager, any complaints or penalties for incorrect or absent filings fall under the auspices of the Texas Ethics Commission.
Behind the Numbers: Well, there aren’t any numbers. Logg made the proper filings last period but didn’t report any contributors and his campaign appeared to be self-financed.
For our neighbors in District 10, here are the findings.
Adam McGough
Cash contributions from March 31- April 29: $26,390
Total contributions since Jan. 1, 2015: $53,543
No. of contributors from March 31- April 29: 62
No. of contributors from Jan. 1, 2015: 165
Personal loans to campaign: $15,500
Cash in bank on April 29: $7,735
Behind the Numbers: According to the filings for District 10 candidates, since Jan. 1, 2015 McGough has raised the most money ($53,543) and has the most contributors (165). McGough maintains the highest personal loan balance among the candidates and loaned his campaign an additional $5,000 this past period. His “establishment” status was supported by a $1,100 contribution from the Dallas Citizen’s Council. Other contributors include Bobby Abtahi (District 9 candidate last year), Dave Neumann (Former city councilman from District 3) and Lucy Billingsley (Trammell Crow’s only daughter and active real estate developer).
Paul Reyes
Cash contributions from March 31- April 29: $17,875
Total contributions since Jan. 1, 2015: $49,615
No. of contributors from March 31- April 29: 47
No. of contributors from Jan. 1, 2015: 137
Personal loans to campaign: $2,000
Cash in bank on April 29: $18,115
Behind the Numbers: Among the three candidates, Reyes has the most in the bank for the sprint to the finish. With the multi-family/single-family relationship a source of historical tension in District 10, it’s interesting to note Reyes received the maximum $2,000 contribution from the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas PAC. Lucy Billingsley earned an invitation to both Reyes’ and McGough’s election night parties as she contributed the same amount to Reyes as she did for McGough.
James White
Cash contributions from March 31- April 29: $12,765
Total contributions since Jan. 1, 2015: $22,775
No. of contributors from March 31- April 29: 48
No. of contributors from Jan. 1, 2015: 91
Personal loans to campaign: $0
Cash in bank on April 29: $10,748
Behind the Numbers: White has the Trinity road naysayers in his camp — Wick Allison and the Dallas Green Alliance both contributed the maximum amount. White is one letter short of a real endorsement coup that would blow the race wide open. Mike Rawlins (that’s Rawlins not Rawlings, as in Mayor Mike) shows up as a $50 contributor.
Will the District 9 or 10 contests go to a run-off? If so, there will be one more filing eight days before the June 13th run-off election. For the run-off, both individuals and political action committees can again contribute the maximum of $1,000 and $2,000, respectively. Since we’re talking numbers, I’m betting on a run-off and five more weeks of fun.
