by ANDY SEVILLA
With only a few days before the June 1 Kyle Council District 3 runoff election, the contenders spent their money on advertising in hopes of grabbing voters.
Chad Benninghoff, who led Joe Bacon by 26 votes in the May 11 general election, is now, too, leading his opponent in money spent, according to the campaign finance report due eight days before the election.
Benninghoff’s report shows he spent $825.03 – $745.03 of that on advertising.
Benninghoff spent his advertising dollars at Vista Print, Signs on the Cheap, ooshirts and the United States Post Office, reports show. He also spent $80 as an event expense at Milts BBQ on May 11, and had a $1 expenditure in non-itemized items.
Bacon’s campaign finance report shows he spent $705.38 during this reporting period, all of which went to advertising at the Hays Free Press and the United States Postal Service.
In all reports combined, including those before the runoff, Bacon spent a total of $3,062.62 in his bid for the District 3 seat, meanwhile Benninghoff spent $1,296.19 in his efforts to win the race.
The latest round of campaign finance reports show Bacon brought in $512.50 in political contributions, while Benninghoff reported accepting no donations.
According to campaign finance reports, Bacon came out on top in money collection. Bacon has reported taking in $3,893.58 in total political contributions since February, during this election cycle.
Benninghoff, on the other hand, has only brought in $589.34, according to his campaign finance reports during this election cycle.
Bacon and Benninghoff landed in a runoff after neither secured victory in the May 11 election. Twenty-six votes separated those candidates, with each pulling more than 40 percent of the vote, but falling shy of the necessary 50 percent plus one vote.
A third candidate, Bill Sinor, who only garnered 84 votes (11.90 percent), was kicked out of the running after the May election.
