By Andy Sevilla
With about a month left before Kyle voters elect a new council member, the candidates for that seat have collectively raised close to $1,700 in their bids for public office.
But the majority of those funds are personal loans from the candidates to their own campaigns.
Bill Sinor, who will face off against Laurie Luttrell and Shane Arabie for the unexpired District 3 seat, has raised the most political dollars during the reporting period ending July 10 largely due to a personal contribution.
Sinor received a total $949 in political contributions between June 12 and July 10, according to his campaign finance report. Sinor contributed $800 to his own campaign. He also received $100 from David Mahn, vice president of the Austin-based Benchmark Group Inc. — the developers of Plum Creek. Sinor reported receiving $49 in unitemized contributions.
Candidates who received contributions of $50 or less do not have to identify the donor, per state law.
Mahn also contributed $100 to Luttrell, marking her only contributions during this reporting period.
Arabie raised $640, including a $500 dollar personal loan to his campaign. Kyle resident and former Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commissioner Mike Fulton contributed $100 to Arabie, according to his campaign report. He also received $40 in unitemized contributions.
The candidates for office have spent close to $1,500 collectively for political purposes, campaign finance reports reveal.
Sinor has been this reporting period’s biggest spender, expending $990 on printing, signs, food expense, and consulting services from former Kyle Mayor James Adkins.
Arabie has spent almost $500 on political signs and post cards, according to his report.
Luttrell, who still has signs from her previous run for office two months ago, has not expended any political funds during this reporting period, her campaign finance documents show.
Luttrell battled six-year incumbent David Wilson for the District 4 council seat in May, falling short of victory by 62 votes.
Sinor, who came in third place in a three-man race for the District 3 seat in 2013, has thrown his hat in the ring this go-around for the same seat he lost a year ago.
Chad Benninghoff edged Joe Bacon for the District 3 seat then resigned in May due to family health concerns.
This is Arabie’s first attempt at elected office. He is Kyle’s P&Z Commission Chair.
In interviews with the Hays Free Press, the candidates all cited infrastructure improvements as the city’s most pressing issue.
Arabie is a lab supervisor at Texas State University, Luttrell is a former business owner and administrative assistant, and Sinor is a former business owner and an insurance representative.
