Fund-raising race

When it comes to raising campaign funds and spending it, Tryon Lewis has separated himself from a crowded field for District 81 state representative.

Tryon Lewis collected $65,000 more since July than the combined collections of his three fellow Republican opponents for the party’s nomination, and his campaign contributions have come mostly within the district, according to reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission released this week.

Lewis raised $89,406, but spent $66,398 since July 11 (when he filed his campaign with the ethics commission) mostly on television, radio and newspaper advertising. Of the nearly $90,000, he’s raised $83,406 (93.2 percent) from individuals or companies with addresses inside the district’s three counties — Andrews, Ector and Winkler.

“The main thing that we’re pleased about is the number of people who’ve contributed, and it’s the fact that they’re local people,” Lewis said.

Incumbent Buddy West, who’s served the Odessa district since 1993, raised $1,700 (11.1 percent) of his $15,379 from individuals or companies with addresses inside the district. Political action committees, including the ConocoPhillips Spirit PAC and Dow Chemical Com-pany Employees PAC, contributed $8,500 to West.

West never had a fund-raising event in the Permian Basin in the six-month period ending Dec. 31 that the filing covers, he explained, but he had a successful benefit in Andrews earlier this month.

West’s political coffers were nearly depleted in the second half of 2007. As of Jan. 1, he had only $3,241 on hand, about $20,000 less than Lewis.

“I’m not planning on putting a lot of money into it,” West said of his campaign. “I don’t have it for one thing. I don’t think people expect us to (have a lot of money.) … It’s something to be concerned with, but it’s not any big deal. There are other things besides money to spend on advertising. I’ve never had a lot of money.”

West’s largest expense was a $6,400 fine he paid in November to the ethics commission for paying credit card bills through campaign contributions but not itemizing the bills according to updated commission policies.

West feels that some of his financial state might be attributed also to a January 2007 fallout with House Speaker Tom Craddick, his district neighbor from Midland, he said. That came when West’s test votes for a heated speaker race didn’t line up with what Craddick supporters were expected to do.

Lewis disagreed.

“I don’t think it’s mattered very much at all,” he said. “To be candid, if people felt like their representative was doing a good job, the fact that he and Tom Craddick don’t get along would be immaterial.”

Meanwhile, Randy Rives, an Ector County Independent School District board trustee, raised $6,875 in the second half of 2007 and had $15,651 on hand at the end of the year.

He spent $15,000, including $6,750 to The Patriot Group for political advice from an Austin campaign planning company, and believes he raised enough money for this race, unless he finds himself in a runoff.

“I don’t think it’s who gets the most signs out or who gets the most commercials,” Rives said. “I don’t think how much money you raise determines if you win or lose this race. I think the people in Andrews, Ector and Winkler counties are going to look at the issues.”

Jesse Gore raised the least amount of money with only $1,620 in contributions, and he loaned his campaign $2,200. He’s been relying on his feet to get his message out there and doesn’t expect to have the money for heavy advertising.

“I’m going out and meeting people and shaking hands,” Gore said. “That’s what grassroots is all about. I’m doing it 10 to 12 hours a day to make a dent in the 11- to 12,000 primary voters.”

BY THE NUMBERS

Money raised and spent between July 1 and Dec. 31:

TRYON LEWIS

>> Raised $89,406.

>> Spent $66,398, mostly on advertising for TV, radio and newspaper.

>> Contributions on hand $23,007.

BUDDY WEST

>> Raised $15,379.

>> Spent $38,948 mostly maintaining his Austin office and $6,400 for ethics violation.

>> *Contributions on hand $3,241.

RANDY RIVES

>> Raised $6,875.

>> Spent $15,062, including $6,750 for political ad-vice from the Patriot Group, an Austin advisory group.

>> *Contributions on hand $15,651.

JESSE GORE

>> Raised $1,620.

>> Spent $2,243.

>> Contributions on hand Including $2,200 he loaned to his campaign: $1,640.

* Contributions on hand includes money raised before July 1.

District 81 Campaign Finance Reports

Jesse Gore

CONTRIBUTIONS

>> $50 and more: Brad Allbright, $375; Jeff Allbright, $125; Ken Black, $500; Derrick Bush, $100; Ron Lemoine, $50; Bill Lisenbe, $100; Richard Notley, $100; Gary Vest, $100; Kevin Waldron, $50; Lonnie Ward, $100.

>> Less than $50: $20.

Total contributions: $1,620.

EXPENDITURES

>> $50 and more: Derrick Bush, $1,265; Sage Payment Solsage Payment Solutions, $75; Texas State Republican Party, $750; U.S. Postal Service, $123; U.S. Postal Service, $18.40.

>> Less than $50: $12.

Total expenditures: $2,243.40

Tryon Lewis

CONTRIBUTIONS

>> 50 and more: Ruff Ahders, $1,000; Roy Allen, $250; Gloria Apolinario, $100; Michael Ashton, $1,000; Edward Barham, $500; Bob Barnes, Granbury, $1,000; J.A. Barnes, $100; W.R. Barnes, $100; J.L. Barnett, $550; Steve Barron, $100; Steve Barron, $100; Larry Bates, $250; Toni Baxter, $100; Howard Bethel, $250; Thomas Blackstone, $250; Eldon Blount, $250; Royce Bodiford, $200; David Boutin, $250; Steven Brannon, $500; Dan R. Brazelton, $250; Don Brown, $100; Bobby Bryant, $250; Dewey Bryant, $250; Virginia Bryant, $100; Christine Bryson, $100; Richard Buck, $250; Andrew Burk, $100; James Butler, $250; Charles Carlson, $500; Richard Carlton, $250; Sheila Carson, $100; Robert M. Chappell Jr., $250; Cynthia Clack, $100; Roger Clayton, $500; Nigel Cowan, $250; Bobby Cox, Fort Worth, $1,000; James Cox, $100; Paul Crump Jr., $1,000; Murray Crutcher, $500; John Cunningham, $100; Betty Dale, $250; Barbara Davis, $250; Johnnye Davis, $1,000; Franklin Deaderick, $1,000; K.R. Dean, $250; James Denton, $250; Bessie Doelling, $100; Tommy Doran, $100; Richard Dubois, $150; Dubb Duff, $250; David Duree, $250; Jay Durell, $500; Tim Edgmon, $250; Doris Edmondson, $100; D. Kirk Edwards, $1,000; Bill G. Elms, $1,000; Lettie England, $250; Toby Eoff, $500; Robert Fair, Midland, $1,000; Bert Ferguson, $200; William Finical, $250; Vern L. Foreman, $250; Linda Foster, Midland, $250; Phil Fouch, $250; Michael Foutz, $100; J. Nicholas Fowler, $1,000; Dr. Nathan Galloway, $100; Gary Ganter, $100; Richard Gillham, $1,000; Doug Gilliam, $200; Peggy Glover, $100; Dr. James Goates, $500; Manuel Gonzales III, $100; Baird Green, $100; T.L. Gregory, $1,000; Taylor Grimes, $1,000; Timothy Haines, $200; Doug Ham, $100; Joy Harriman, $300; Bobby Hawkins, $100; J.R. Haywood, $100; James Headlee, $500; Joan Headlee, $100; Bryan Henderson, $250; Delores Hennech, $250; Olivia Hill, $100; W.R. Hill, $500; Melissa Hirsch, $125; Ryan Hoerauf, $500; Daniel Hollmann, $1,000; Melanie Hollman, $100; Caroline Howard, $100; Kathleen Howe, $500; Wade Hudman, $100; Wade Hudman, $50; Roy Hunt, $250; Wes Hunt, $100; Deby Hurt, $250; Joe Hurt, $500; Earl Husband, $100; Anne Jenkins, $75; John Jennings, League City, $250; Karen Johnson, $150; Mark Johnson, $2,000; Mickey Jones, $1,000; Steve Jones, Midland, $250; Wanda Jones, $100; Austin Keith, $1,000; Glen Kennedy, $200; Paul Kenworthy, $1,000; Grace King, $250; Gene Kirby, $500; Michael Kuykendall, $200; LaDoyce Lambert, $250; John Landgraf, $1,000; Robert Laughry, $500; D.W. Leach, $100; Ron Leach, $200; Larry Lee, $250; Larry Lee, $200; Jay Leslie, $100; Erma Lewis, Longview, $250; P.M. Looper, $250; Dr. Donald Loveman, $100; P.A. Lyon, $1,000; Mackey & Associates, $250; Bill Madden, $100; C. Jack Manning, $500; Steve Mareschal, $100; R. Neal Marshall, $100; John Mason, $1,000; Alice McCollum, $199; D.M. McDonald, $200; Larry McElmurry, $100; Stewart McKee-han, $100; Tom McMinn, $500; Dr. Thomas Meek, $250; J. Tommy Melton, $500; Larry Melton, $250; Russell Meyers, Midland, $200; Miller & Bicklein PC, $200; Ben Montgomery, $250; Allen Moore, $1,000; Douglas Moore, $100; Gary Moore, $100; James Morris, $250; Dr. J.B. Naidu, $1,000; David Nelson, $100; David Nichols, $100; Ellen Noël, $250; Larry Nunez, $250; James O’Leary, $200; Lamar Osbourn, $400; Harvey Page, $1,000; Dr. M.C. Parekh, $250; Steven Parker, Odessa, $1,000; Timothy Parker, $100; Hasmukhbal Patel, $1,000; Kae T. Patrick, $100; Vicki Dublin Patrick, $100; Randal Patterson, $500; Randal Patterson, $250; Randal Patterson, $100; Jimmy Peacock, $1,000; Charles Perry, Midland, $1,000; Lorraine Perryman, $250; Betty Purvis, $100; Dr. C.V. Ramanthan, $250; Dr. Michael Reznik, $250; Guy Riley, $100; Terri Riley, $500; William Ritter, $500; Deborah Roberts, $250; Thomas Rodman, $1,000; Sony Roethmeyer, $1,000; Dyann Rose, $100; Thomas Salmon Sr., $250; C.R. Saulsbury, $1,000; Dick Saulsbury, $1,000; Harlan Scott, $100; Ron Sewell, $1,000; Shafer Davis O’Leary & Stoker Inc., $250; A.G. Sims, $250; A.G. Sims, $50; C. Richard Sivalls, $1,000; Richard Skillern, $500; Kevin Slater, $500; Dr. John Slider, $250; Thomas Snoddy, $250; Raymond Starnes, Gardendale, $300; Ted Steward, Cypress Mill, $500; Marian Sturgeon, $100; Bob Switzer, $150; Steven Thompson, $1,000; Charles Tighe, Midland, $500; Tommy Tilley, $100; Jimmie Todd, $250; Joe Torres, Midland, $250; Toby Tripp, $500; Billy Turner, $100; David Turner, $250; Craig Van Amburgh, $250; Dr. Ravikumar Vemuru, $1,000; Phillip Vincent, $100; John Walton, Kermit, $1,000; Terry Warren, $250; Dr. Steven Wiehle, $250; Dennis Williams, $100; Harold Williams, $100; Nick Williams, $500; Mike Withrow, $250; Kendall Wong, $100; Clay Wood, $1,000; Donald Wood, $5,000; Jack Wood, $1,000; Joe Young, $500; David Zavoda, $500; Dr. Philip Zeeck, $500.

>> Less than $50: $1,907.

Total Contributions: $89,406.

EXPENDITURES

>> $50 and more: Ector County Women’s Club, $500; Gaylynn Garrett, $412.02; Gaylynn Garrett, $92.39; GiGi’s Help Desk, $317; Hunt Advertising & Consulting Inc., $2,070; Hunt Advertising & Consulting Inc., $275; KC Strategies, Austin, $1,177.38; Tryon Lewis, $286; Media Concepts Inc., $2,436.10; Media Concepts Inc., $131.81; Media Concepts, $873.23; Media Concepts Inc., $1,921.78; Media Concepts Inc., $955.86; Media Concepts Inc., $30,766; Media Concepts Inc., $4,896.75; Media Concepts Inc., $4,000; Media Concepts Inc., $5,727.84; Media Concepts Inc., $7,310.95; Republican Party of Texas, $750; Mary Jane Smith, $416.36; Mary Jane Smith, $575; Mary Jane Smith, $449.45.

>> Less than $50: $57.95.

Total Expenditures: $66,398,87.

Randy Rives

CONTRIBUTIONS

>> $50 and more: Kevin Ballard, $500; Alice Belew, $100; Myrna Canady, $200; Auber Dean, $100; J.M. Fife, $100; James Franklin, $100; James Fregia, $500; Rodney Hodgkins, $200; Daryl Johnson, $250; Sheridan Kirkland, $100; Stephen Kobbler, $250; Jay Leslie, $500; Raymond Martinez, $500; Daniel Mitchell, $100; Buddy Moore, $100; Bob Neidert, $1,000; Cindy Nutter, $100; Dee Phillips, $100; James Reese, $500; Larry Slaughter, $500; Dustee Sollis, $100; Royce Watkins, $100; Gregg Wright, $500.

>> Less than $50: $375.

Total contributions: $6,875.

EXPENDITURES

>> $50 and more: All Aboard Charter, $765.60; Alltell, $189.43; Alltell, $221.80; Alltell, $72.22; Andrews County, $140; AT&T, $196.13; Jennifer Bremerman, $63.54; Jennifer Bremerman, $150; Jennifer Bremerman, $150; Jennifer Bremerman, $150; Jennifer Bremerman, $150; Cable One, $105.95; Cable One, $119.31; Cadence Targeted Communications, $1,425; Cody Kiker, $506; Kiwani, $200; Jim Newhouse, $294; Odessa American, $645; Patriot Group, $3,750; Patriot Group, $3,000; Republican Party of Texas, $750; Republican Women, $100; Denise Rives, $284.35; Taste of the Permian Basin, $80; Western Grill, $232.54; Winkler County, $250; Zip, $653.83; Zip, $48.71; Zip, $146.77; Zip, $167.31.

>> Less than $50: $54.98.

Total expenditures: $15,062.47.

G.E. Buddy West

CONTRIBUTIONS

>> $50 and more: B.D. and Catherine Berryhill, $500; BmcPac, $2,000; Cammack & Strong P.C., $200; Conoco Phillips Spirit Pac, $2,000; David Sibley Campaign Acct., $500; Dow Chemical Company Employees PAC, $250; Erben & Yarbrough, $250; Friends of Baylor Med, $1,000; Gary Newsom M.D. P.A., $500; Daniel Hinkle, $250; Homepac of Texas, $250; Houston & Lisa Copeland Insurance Agency, $250; Hughes & Luce, $500; Hughes & Luce, $500; Deborah Ingersoll, $750; Dean Kelm, $250; Koch Pac, $1,000; Bert Mann, $200; Pac of Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, $250; John Parish, $500; Daffy Poyner, $100; Harold Simmons, $1,000; Texas State Rifle Assoc PAC, $250; The American Electric Power Company-Texas Committee for Responsible Government, $1,000; Wholesale Beer Distributors of Texas Pac, $500; Wholesale Berry Distribu-tors of Texas Pac, $15.78; Jim and Margaret York, $250.

>> Less than $50: $363.26.

Total contributions: $15,379.04.

EXPENDITURES

>> $50 and more: A to Z Automotive, $706.47; Advanta, $200; Ajuua’s Restaurant, $99.83; American Legislative Exchange, $575; AT&T, $94.35; AT&T, $118.45; AT&T, $145.06; AT&T, $155.64; AT&T, $155.19; Wade Bennington, $1,000; Paul Blanton, $359.60; Bonham Booster, $125; Brick Oven, $78.96; Capitol Gift Shop, $58.46; Cheesecake Factory, $88.32; Cingular, $156.85; Cingular, $360.36; City of Austin, $152.17; City of Austin, $65.13; City of Austin, $104.50; City of Austin, $41.26; Cottonwood Cove, $175.26; Delta Air Lines, $366.30; Delta Air Lines, $366.30; Emeralds, $86.06; Energy Council, $55; Exxon Mobil, $75; Exxon Mobil, $75; Exxon Mobil, $17; Freedom GMC, $58.45; Freedom GMC, $27.95; GMAC, $888.66; Grand Teton Lodge, $400.68; Grande, $171.62; Grande, $171.61; Grande, $171.62; Grande, $172.46; Guardian Storage, $480; Guardian Storage, $480; Guardian Storage, $480; Hilton Liberty, $284.98; Hobby Lobby, $153.46; Houstons Restaurant, $124.06; Houstons Restaurant, $70.43; Houstons Restaurant, $53.36; Huts Hamburgers, $48.65; Huts Hamburgers, $50; Jackson Lake Lodge, $920; Junior League, $700; La Bodega, $199.10; La Bodega, $61.48; Landry Place, $1,525; Landry Place, $1,700; Landry Place, $1,700; Mardel Supply, $140.97; Odessa American, $1,675; Odessa Chamber of Commerce, $235; Odessa Chamber of Commerce, $100; Odessa Country Club, $324.42; Odessa Country Club, $720.41; Odessa Country Club, $80; Odessa Country Club, $520.32; Odessa Country Club, $370.40; Odessa Country Club, $324.42; On The Border, $77.62; Onstar, $18.35; Onstar, $18.35; Onstar, $18.35; Onstar, $18.35; Republican Party of Texas, $750; Robin Harris, $70; Sams Club, $40.58; Sams Club, $74.62; Sams Club, $84; Sams Club, $81.81; Sams Club, $70.31; Sams Club, $66.08; Sams Club, $41.24; Sams Club, $75; Sams Club, $63.44; Sams Club, $19.41; Shell Oil, $54.37; Shell Oil & Gas, $52.03; Signature Sports, $89.50; Signature Sports, $89.50; Southwest Airlines, $89.40; Southwest Airlines, $178.80; Southwest Airlines, $2.50; Southwest Airlines, $184.70; Southwest Airlines, $7.50; Southwest Airlines, $178.80; Southwest Airlines, $5; Southwest Airlines, $186.80; Southwest Airlines, $5; Southwest Airlines, $114.30; Southwest Airlines, $371.50; Southwest Airlines, $186.80; Southwest Airlines, $5; Southwest Airlines, $39; Southwest Airlines, $95.80; Southwest Airlines, $5; Southwest Airlines, $7.10; Southwest Airlines, $39; Southwest Airlines, $64; Southwest Heritage, $3,000; Target, $216.49; Texans for John Cornyn, $1,000; Texas Ethics Commission, $6,400; Texas House, $280; Texas House, $280; Town & Country, $60.01; U.S. Postmaster, $8.20; U.S. Postmaster, $43.66; U.S. Postmaster, $207.15; Wal-Mart, $69.04; Wal-Mart, $57.26; Wal-Mart, $61.02; West Texas United, $700; Wholefoods, $118.84; Scott Williams, $500.

>> Less than $50: $666.95.

Total expenditures: $38,948.56.