As the race for three Dripping Springs City Council seats enters its final month, two challengers have vastly outspent their incumbent counterparts on their respective campaigns.
Taline Manassian and Harrison Schultz, both political newcomers, spent close to a combined $5,500 toward their city council bids, according to campaign finance reports that were submitted April 6.
Schultz, who works in the information technology field, led all six candidates in political expenditures, as well as political contributions.
Schultz spent just over $3,000 from March 1 to April 6, with the majority of his expenses going to advertising. That includes a $1,400-plus dollar expenditure made with Ace Printing on March 21.
He also outpaced all candidates by drawing just over $4,000 in political contributions. Roughly 60 percent of that total came from Joanne Inscore, the barn manager at Barn Thirteen, LLC, which is a horse riding and training venue in Dripping Springs.
Schultz also received a $500 contribution from Richard and Sarah Beggs, while also receiving a $500 in-kind contribution from artist Kara Shaw. Schultz has roughly $500 left in his political war chest.
Meanwhile, Tanassian, an attorney, received $1,900 in political contributions from March 2 to March 27.
Manassian received a $500 contribution from Richard Beggs, a consultant for The Peloton Group, as well as a director for Protect Our Water (POW). She also received a $700 contribution from Maktaghine Manassian, a retired resident of Dripping Springs, along with a $500 in-kind contribution from Shaw.
The bulk of Manassian’s political expenditures went to advertising expenses, where she spent a combined $2,259.68 for yard signs.
Of the roughly $2,885 Manassian spent during the period, 88 percent was made out of her own pocket. Manassian has only $960 left in her war chest.
None of the three incumbent council members running, however, have come close to the money spent, or received, by the Manassian and Schultz campaigns.
Current Mayor Pro Tem Bill Foulds, who has been on the council for 16 years, received $1,000 total dollars in political contributions from Feb. 28 to April 6. Foulds received $500 in contributions of less than $50, while receiving two separate loans that totaled $500.
Foulds made one expenditure for $32 and has only $468 left in his campaign chest.
Charles Busbey, who has been involved with the city since the mid-1990s, listed a $368 expenditure from his credit card between March 1 and April 5. Busbey did not receive any political contributions during that time.
Longtime city council incumbent Santos Alba, who has been on the dais since 1993, did not spend any money on his campaign, or receive any political contributions.
As of Tuesday, candidate William Travis Crow had not filed campaign finance reports with the city.
Candidates running for Dripping Springs City Council
Santos Alba
Total Political Contributions – $0
Total Political Expenditures – $0
Political contributions maintained during the last reporting period – $0
Charles Busbey
Total Political Contributions – $0
Total Political Expenditures – $368.97
Political contributions maintained during the last reporting period – $0
Bill Foulds, Jr.
Total Political Contributions – $500
Total Political Expenditures – $32
Political contributions maintained during the last reporting period – $468
Harrison Schultz
Total political contributions – $4,064.38
Total political expenditures – $3,064.38
Political contributions maintained as of last day of reporting period – $500
Taline Manassian
Total Political Contributions – $1,900
Total Political Expenditures – $2,885.23
Political contributions maintained during the last reporting period – $960.52
