Hurt, Regan, Beard raise most campaign funds in Abilene city election

Greg Jaklewicz, Abilene Reporter-News
·5 min read

Two of the three popularly called “pro business" candidates for seats on the Abilene City Council by far reported the highest campaign contributions and also outspent opponents vying for election May 6.

Weldon Hurt, the Place 4 councilman who seeking to be mayor, raised almost $35,000 to lead the field. Abilene is electing a new mayor and new council members for Places 3 and 4.

There are a combined 10 candidates.

The filing of Abilene city election finance reports is part of the campaign process.
The filing of Abilene city election finance reports is part of the campaign process.

According to campaign finance reports listed on the city of Abilene website, Place 3 candidate Cynthia Alvidrez has not filed a report. One also is not listed for mayoral write-in candidate Chad Clark.

Both were not required to file because each previously filled out paperwork that stated she or he would not accept or spend more than $1,050 during the campaign, according to City Secretary Shawna Atkinson.

In comparison to Hurt, the other two candidates for mayor raised a combined $14,875, or 43% of their opponent's total - Ryan Goodwin at $5,375 and Dasi Reddy at $9,500.

For Place 3, attorney Blaise Regan raised $23,865, much more than Shawnte Fleming ($4,815) and James Sargent ($7,713).

For Place 4, however, Fountaingate Fellowship pastor Scott Beard pulled in more than $21,000 compared to his opponent, Brian Yates ($14,850), now retired from Abilene Aero.

Hurt, Regan and Yates have been grouped as specifically pro-business candidates this election.

The latest campaign reports were due 30 days before the election.

Two candidates listed sizable contributions from political action committees not based in Abilene - the Austin-based Texas Real Estate PAC, which gave $10,000 to Hurt and $7,500 to Yates, and San Angelo-based Republic Employees PAC, which gave $1,000 to Hurt.

Hurt listed 69 donors, Regan 53 contributors.

It appears that Reddy for the most part has supported his own campaign.

Those with the most funds listed additional advertising expenses, such as billboards.

Early voting begins Monday.

∎ Go to reporternews.com or read more about the election, which includes two contested seats on the Wylie ISD board, in Sunday’s print edition.

Mayor

∎ RYAN GOODWIN

Ryan Goodwin
Ryan Goodwin

Total contributions: $5,375

Total expenditures: $4,929.20

Contribution highlights:

  • Range: $25 to $1,000

  • Biggest contributors: Barry William, Abilene, $1,000; Bennie Mouser, separate contributions of $300 and $400

  • Notable contributors: Chris Carnohan, chairman of the Taylor County Republican Party; Ryan Goodwin ($250)

  • Location: Five contributors listed a non-Abilene address ($700 total)

  • Notable expenses: $1,500 and $1,000 for consulting to McShane LLC, Las Vegas, Nev.

∎ DASI REDDY DAYAKAR

Dasi Reddy
Dasi Reddy

Total contributions: $9,500

Total expenditures: $8,158.16

Contribution highlights:

  • Range: $100 to $2,300

  • Biggest contributors: Emerald Twinkle, listed as separate contributions of $2,300, $2,000, $1,500, $1,300 and $1,000 (address listed is that of Spicy India Restaurant, Abilene)

  • Notable contributors: Reddy gave $800 in his name

  • Location: All addresses are local

  • Notable expenses: $2,320.58 for printing and mailing and $1,000 salary for Charles Byrn, campaign manager

∎ WELDON HURT

Weldon Hurt
Weldon Hurt

Total contributions: $34,780

Total expenditures: $14,468.02

Contribution highlights:

  • Range: $10 to $10,000

  • Biggest contributors: Texas Real Estate PAC, $10,000; Warren Harkins, Abilene, $5,000; and seven donations for $1,000

  • Notable contributors: TREPAC, Republic Employees PAC, San Angelo; Jane Beard, Dian Graves Owen Foundation; Scott Dueser, president, CEO and chairman of the board, First Financial Bank; Donna Albus, departing City Council member

  • Location: Seven contributors listed a non-Abilene address (four for Tuscola, one for Austin, one for San Angelo, one for Merkel; total $4,200). Hurt listed TREPAC with an Abilene address in his report

  • Notable expenses: $4,091.11, $591.69 and $2,718.17 ($7,400.97) for advertising to the same firm (Unique Signs, Abilene) and $4,800 for advertising to Lamar Advertising Co.

PLACE 3

∎ SHAWNTE FLEMING

Place 3 candidate Shawnte Fleming during a city council candidate forum at the Abilene Public Library, which was sponsored by the Hispanic Leadership Council and the local NAACP April 4, 2023.
Place 3 candidate Shawnte Fleming during a city council candidate forum at the Abilene Public Library, which was sponsored by the Hispanic Leadership Council and the local NAACP April 4, 2023.

Total contributions: $4,815

Total expenditures: $3,583.77

Contribution highlights:

  • Range: $20 to $1,000

  • Biggest contributors: Anthony Williams, Abilene; Dave Dalzell, Abilene; Linda Goolsbee, Abilene, each $1,000.

  • Notable contributors; Williams, mayor of Abilene; Bill Enriquez, Abilene ISD board member

  • Location: Two contributors listed a non-Abilene address (total $150)

  • Notable expense: $1,035.88 for advertising and printing to John Rogers, Abilene

∎ BLAISE REGAN

Blaise Regan
Blaise Regan

Total contributions: $23,865

Total expenditures: $9,796.64

Contribution highlights:

  • Range: $50 to $5,000

  • Biggest contributors: Regan contributed $5,000. There were five contributions of $1,000 or more

  • Notable contributors: Scott Dueser, president, chairman and CEO, First Financial Bank, $1,500; Abilene Fire Firefighters PAC, $3,500; Abilene Police PAC, $500

  • Location: Six contributors listed non-Abilene addresses (three for Tuscola; total $1,950)

  • Notable expenses: $3,225 for advertising to Lamar Advertising Co. Five out-of-Abilene businesses were paid for advertising expenses

∎ JAMES SARGENT

James Sargent
James Sargent

Total contributions: $7,713.54

Total expenditures: $4,408.16

Contribution highlights:

  • Range: $100 to $522.06

  • Biggest contributors: Barry and Aimee Williams, Abilene, $522.06; Eric Bengs, Bennie Mouser and Latimer Bowen, all Abilene, each $500. Patrick Fogle contributed $1,425 through in-kind website designing service

  • Notable contributors: Steve Savage, former City Council member; Chris Carnohan, chairman of the Taylor County Republican Party

  • Location: Two contributors listed a non-Abilene address (one for Tuscola; total $450)

  • Notable expenses: $575 to Fogle for website maintenance. All expenses reported were local

PLACE 4

∎ SCOTT BEARD

Scott Beard
Scott Beard

Total contributions: $21,090

Total expenditures: $10,623.70

Contribution highlights:

  • Range: $20 to $5,000

  • Biggest contributors: Shawn Sullivan, Abilene, $5,000. There were six contributors of $1,000 or more, including Beard ($1,000); he also made a $100 contribution. There was one anonymous donor, giving $100.

  • Notable contributors: Chris Carnohan, chairman of the Taylor County Republican Party; Darryl Zeller, Abilene ISD board member

  • Location: Four listed a non-Abilene address (total $1,750)

  • Notable expenses: $5,500 for printing to Mike Stephens, Lubbock

∎ BRIAN YATES

Brian Yates
Brian Yates

Total contributions: $14,850

Total expenditures: $13,793.28 (scheduled loans: $3,185.49)

Contribution highlights:

  • Range: $25 to $7,500

  • Biggest contributors: TREPAC (Texas Real Estate PAC), $7,500.

  • Notable contributors: TREPAC, Glen and Marelyn Shedd (she is president of First National Bank – Abilene), Jane Beard and Tucker Bridwell, both with Dian Graves Owen Foundation; Jack and Becky Rentz (he is a former City Council member)

  • Location: Six contributors listed a non-Abilene address, including Austin-based TREPAC (total $8,375)

  • Notable expenses: $6,815 for billboards to four firms, and $2,256 for yard signs (Unique Signs, Abilene)

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Hurt, Regan, Beard raise most campaign funs in Abilene city election