By Andy Sevilla.
Before the turn of the year former Kyle Mayor James Adkins, who is now seeking a comeback to his once-held post, collected almost $2,500 in support of his run to a wide open seat.
In an Oct. 23 Hays Free Press report, Adkins announced he would seek the mayor’s seat in the May 10 election. He named Texas Pie Company owner Spencer (Thomas) Schwarz as his campaign treasurer.
Kyle Mayor Lucy Johnson will not seek a third term, effectively ending an almost six-year career in public service once her post expires this summer.
| Johnson |
On Nov. 18, Adkins collected $1,000 from Lanette Lowden of Wimberley and $250 from Chuck Nash of San Marcos, according to his campaign finance report, which accounts contributions and expenditures through Dec. 31.
Adkins also collected $500, $500 and $200, from Jay and Doria Hanna of Westlake Hills, Blake and Ana Magee of Austin, and Steve Tucker of Austin, respectively, on Nov. 20, the report shows.
Prepping for a political blast, Adkins’ campaign spent $1,423.49 for signs on Dec. 3. He spent nearly $280 in gas for in-district travel, his report shows. Adkins has also expended about $580 in political expenditures of $100 or less.
Adkins had $726.19 remaining in his campaign war chest as of Dec. 31.
Kyle council members David Wilson and Becky Selbera, both of whose terms in office expire in May, have kept quiet on their plans for reelection or higher office, and their campaign finance reports show no activity.
| Adkins |
Wilson filed a final report last January, where his campaign account remained with $194.56. In the ensuing year, Wilson did not collect any campaign contributions, but his account earned $5.53 in interest,according to his Jan. 15, 2014, report.
Wilson reported having $305.09 in his campaign account as of Jan. 15, a more than $100 increase from his January report last year. He did not return a call seeking comment on the apparent accounting discrepancy.
Selbera, who filed a final report July 19, 2013, filed a semiannual report this month saying that she filed a final report six months prior. Her July 2013 report states that she did not maintain any political contributions in her campaign account.
Johnson, who does not plan on seeking elected office, at least in the immediate future, filed a final campaign report this month that shows her account holds no campaign contributions.
Council members Diane Hervol and Samantha LeMense continue active campaign accounts, though neither received any contributions during this reporting period.
Hervol maintains $880.82 in her campaign account; after a $30 expenditure, LeMense remains with $259.88 in her campaign account, reports show.
Council members Ray Bryant and Chad Benninghoff did not file a semiannual report this month, though both officials filed a final campaign report last year.
Texas Ethics Commission rules state that once a final campaign finance report is filed, the filer’s campaign treasurer appointment is terminated, and the filer is relieved from any additional filing obligations as a candidate. But if the filer is an officeholder, then they are still subject to filing reports applicable to officeholders, such as semiannual reports due Jan. 15 and July 15 of each year.
However, the state rules further say that if an a local officeholder does not have a campaign treasurer on file and does not accept more than $500 in officeholder contributions or makes more than $500 in officeholder expenditures during the period covered by the report, they do not have to file a semiannual report.
Reporting in Buda: Haehn campaign in debt
Though elected on Nov. 6, 2012, Buda council member George Haehn’s campaign remains in debt despite the 13 months since his election.
According to his Jan. 15 campaign finance report, Haehn has $2,270 in outstanding loans as of Dec. 31, and has $8.70 in his campaign account. The report does not state who holds Haehn’s campaign loan, but according to his finance report, he reportedly reimbursed himself $80 on Nov. 28, 2012, to pay down the loan he provided his campaign from personal funds.
Buda Mayor Todd Ruge was the lone officeholder in the city to receive any political contributions during this reporting period.
| Ruge |
Ruge’s campaign took in a $313.44 contribution from himself on Sept. 14, 2013, from proceeds from a personal yard sale, according to his Jan. 15 report. Ruge also accepted $80 in non-itemized contributions.
He maintains $743.44 in his campaign account as of Dec. 31, his report shows.
Council members Bobby Lane and Eileen Altmiller reported no campaign finance activity during this reporting period, and both reported having no contributions in their accounts.
Council member Jose Montoya did not file a semiannual report on Jan. 15. City Secretary Joy Hart said he filed a final report last year.
The newest elected official in Buda, Angela Kennedy, whose finance report includes some election crossover, has $359.88 in her account as of Dec. 31.
Kennedy was elected with 72 percent of the vote on Nov. 7, 2013, besting three other candidates for the Place 1 seat.
In her report, which covers Oct. 2, 2013 through Dec. 21, 2013, Kennedy reported one donation – a $925.31 in-kind contribution from Chester Davis of Buda on Oct. 30 for advertising in the Hays Free Press.
Kennedy reported $1,121.84 in total political expenditures, which included advertising in the Hays Free Press and other non-itemized spending.
Hopkins, who was reelected to his Place 2 seat on Nov. 7 with 72 percent of the vote, filed a final campaign finance report in Dec. 2013, according to Hart, though that report was not made available to the Hays Free Press at press time.
