January 13, 2014
(http://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/senate-candidates-to-speak-at-texas-business-roundtable)
Lieutenant Governor candidates speak at Texas Business Roundtable
Patrick, Staples report fundraising totals
AUSTIN (KXAN) – Political hopefuls will gathered Monday at the Texas Business Roundtable Candidate Forum – a major gathering of statewide Republican candidates. In left-leaning Austin, this is particularly meaningful because it offered one of the last chances some of these candidates will have to speak directly to the people.
Many major donors were also be present at the Four Seasons Ballroom where speakers popped in and out of the forum.
Attendees heard from the Lieutenant Governor candidates, the two Attorney General candidates, the four Comptroller candidates, the four Agriculture Commissioner candidates, and several area House and Senate candidates. Confirmed speakers were:
- David Dewhurst* (R), Lt. Governor
- Dan Patrick (R) for Lt. Governor
- Jerry Patterson (R) for Lt. Governor
- Todd Staples (R) for Lt. Governor
- Dan Branch (R) for Attorney General
- Barry Smitherman (R) for Attorney General
- Glenn Hegar (R) for Comptroller
- Harvey Hilderbran (R) for Comptroller
- Debra Medina (R) for Comptroller
- Raul Torres (R) for Comptroller
- J. Allen Carnes (R) for Agriculture Commissioner
- Tommy Merritt (R) for Agriculture Commissioner
- Sid Miller (R) for Agriculture Commissioner
- Eric Opiela (R) for Agriculture Commissioner
- Gordy Bunch (R) for SD 4
- Brandon Creighton (R) for SD 4
- Steve Toth (R) for SD 4
- Paul Bettencourt (R) for SD 7
- James Wilson (R) for SD7
- Tony Pompa (R) for SD 10
- Jon Schweitzer (R) for SD 10
- Mark Shelton (R) for SD 10
- Mark Skinner (R) for SD 10
- John Carona* (R), SD 16
- Donna Campbell* (R), SD 25
- Elisa Chan (R) for SD 25
- Mike Novak (R) for SD 25
- Celia Israel (D) for HD 50
- Mike VanDeWalle (R) for HD 50
Patrick reports raising $1.7M in Lt. Gov. race
Texas state Sen. Dan Patrick says he raised nearly $1.7 million over the past six months for his lieutenant governor campaign.
Patrick, a Houston Republican who heads the powerful Senate Education Committee, said in a statement Monday that he has about $3.1 million in cash on-hand. He noted that’s despite already spending more than $1.3 million on television ads.
But Patrick has also in the past extended personal loans to his campaign.
Contributions came from almost 1,200 people, with a mean amount of $1,400.
Patrick is hoping to unseat fellow Republican and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who also is facing challenges from Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and Agriculture Commissioner Todd Stapes in the March 4 GOP primary.
Patrick was the first of the four to divulge his latest fundraising totals.
Staples to report raising $2M in Lt. Gov. race
Republican Todd Staples’ campaign says he’s raised more than $2 million in the last six month for his bid to become the next lieutenant governor.
Campaign spokesman Bryan Black said Staples has $3.1 million cash-on-hand, with no loans, no debt and no unpaid bills. Staples is currently the agriculture commissioner and is one of three candidates challenging incumbent Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.
Campaigns have started releasing limited campaign fundraising data before Wednesday’s official filing deadline. Since campaigning in Texas is so expensive, fundraising totals indicate a campaign’s viability ahead of the primary election on March 4.
Fellow candidate Dan Patrick said Monday he’s raised $1.7 million with $3 million cash on hand, but did not mention loans or debts in his press release. Neither Dewhurst nor Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has released their numbers.
