More than $27,000 in campaign contributions have been collected by six candidates vying for a trio of Wimberley City Council seats up for grabs May 4, according to 30-day campaign finance reports.
Roughly $21,000 of that has been raised by Rebecca Minnick, Christine Byrne and Bo Bowman, who all are running on platforms opposing proposed plans for Aqua Texas to operate the city’s wastewater treatment system.
In the race for the Place 1 seat, currently occupied by council member Mike McCullogh, Wimberley Planning and Zoning (P&Z) commissioner Tim Dodson reported $2,875 in political contributions and $4,417.63 in political expenses. Dodson received contributions from McCullogh, who opted to forgo reelection, as well as from current city council member Craig Fore. Former Wimberley city council member Patricia Kelley, who resigned her seat in late 2018, also contributed to McCullough’s campaign.
As of the last day of the reporting period, Dodson has $382.56 cash-on-hand.
However, Minnick, who serves on Wimberley’s P&Z, received $8,219 in contributions from 50 people, which is the most of any candidate running for a Wimberley city council seat.
Minnick spent $1,594.43 from Feb. 15 to April 4, of the last day of the reporting period, Minnick has maintained $5,374.57 in her war chest.
Meanwhile, Byrne collected more contributions and spent more money than opponent Susan Jaggers in the Place 3 race. Both are vying for the seat held by Allison Davis, who is opting to forgo reelection.
Byrne, who served on the Wimberley Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for 11 years, collected $6,643.27 toward her campaign during the filing period; Byrne’s contributions came from approximately 50 people.
Byrne spent $2,991.80, but has $4,557.70 in cash left at the end of the reporting period.
Jaggers, current Wimberley mayor, received $1,300 in contributions, which came from a trio of donors, and has spent $1,300 toward her campaign, which is the lowest amount among all candidates.
Jaggers, who submitted her report four days after the April 4 filing deadline, did not have any remaining cash in her war chest at the end of the reporting period.
According to the Texas Ethics Commission, finance reports submitted after the deadline could be subject to fines. A citizen complaint, however, must be filed for the commission to investigate the violation.
In the Place 5 race, Bowman has outspent and out-fundraised incumbent council member Erik Wollam.
According to the report, Bowman received $6,182.32 in political contributions and has spent $4,201.13 in expenditures for his campaign. Bowman had $3,141.41 in outstanding loans as of the last day of the reporting period.
Wollam, who was appointed to the Place 5 seat in late 2018, collected $2,494 in contributions and has spent $1,741.54, according to his finance reports.
Wollam had $558.46 in the bank as of the last day of the reporting period.
