Price campaign leads Leal in contributions

By Greg Rohloff

The Amarillo Independent

Attorney Four Price led restaurateur Victor Leal in campaign contributions for the Republican 87th Legislative District primary by more than $47,000 through the Jan. 21 reporting period.

Price reported contributions totaling $118,770 while Leal listed $17,000 for the first reporting period that ended Dec. 31, 2009, and an additional $54,225 through the Jan. 21 period. Price had no contributions to report for the first period, but did have expenditures reflecting his filing for the office being vacated by State Rep. David Swinford.

From GOP officeholders, both active and now retired, Leal reported contributions of $1,000 from former Congressman Larry Combest and $1,000 from the Warren Chisum campaign during the first campaign period. For the second reporting period, Leal reported $250 from the Texans for Henry Bonilla, a former congressman from San Antonio, $500 from Texans for Victor Carillo, a Texas Railroad Commissioner, and $5,000 from Brenda Pejovich of Dallas, a Gov. Rick Perry appointee to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The bulk of his money, though, has come from the restaurant industry, with the Texas Restaurant Association Political Action Committee kicking in $15,000 in two contributions during the second period being the largest.

Other Texas restaurant industry figures donating to Leal’s campaign include Bob Barnes of Granbury, $1,000; Bobby Cox of Fort Worth, $15,000; Glen Garey, general counsel of the Texas Restaurant Association, $100; Michael Hamilton, also a state representative, of Mauriceville, $1,000; Ralph Sheffield of Temple, also a state representative candidate, $250; Schlotzky’s franchisee Don Stitt of Amarillo, $500; and Russell Ybarra of Houston, $1,000.

From PACs, Leal has received $500 from the American Dream PAC, founded by Bonilla; $500 from the Licensed Beverage Distributors PAC; and $500 from the Consulting Engineers PAC.

Among Amarilloans donating at least $1,000 were Dr. Thomas Smith, $5,000; Dr. Kevin S. King, $2,000; Jeremy Rohane, $1,500 and Dr. John Williamson, $1,000.

Contributions from outside of Amarillo include $500 from a Chicago law firm, Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson, and $250 from a firm associate, Jeremy Glenn. Other contributors from outside of Amarillo included James Mansour of Austin, head of Grande Communications, $1,000; the Gerald Franklin Insurance Agency of Houston, $1,000; and M.T.C. Real Estate of San Antonio, $1,000.

Among Price’s contributions of $1,000 or more from Amarillo are Carl D. Hare, $5,000; Linda Latham Hare, $5,000; Mr. and Mrs. Jess Ben Latham III, $2,500, Mr. And Mrs. Bill Attebury, $2,500, Ralph Ellis, $2,500; Mr. and Mrs. Wales Madden Jr., $2,500; Mr. and Mrs. Jack Shelton, $2,500; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bradley, $1,000; Mr. and Mrs. Tom Cambridge, $1,000; Dr. Mark D. Cettie, $1,000; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Fancher, $1,000; Christian Price Frazer, $1,000, Jerry H. Hodge, $1,000, Mr. and Mrs. Jess Latham IV, $1,000, Larry Latham, $1,000, Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. McCartt, $1,000, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Phillips, $1,000; T. Jay Reeves, $1,000; A.C. Smith, $1,000, Dr. and Mrs. Aubrey L. Smith III, $1,000; Dr. Robert H. Stroud, $1,000, Mr. and Mrs. James W. Walker, $1,000; Dr. and Mrs. David Woodburn, $1,000; and Barbara Yingling. Price also included $1,000 in pledges from Mr. and Mrs. Greg Mitchell.

From outside of Amarillo, donations included Reid S. Walker of Dallas, $10,000; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Caldwell of San Antonio, $1,000; Mr. and Mrs. Kade Matthews of Clarendon, $2,500; Bill D. Pittman of Spearman, $1,000; and Price’s father, Walter T. Price III, $5,000.

From current officeholders and political action committees, Price listed Valero Political Action committee, $2,500; the Texas Bankers Association TBA BankPAC, $500, and from Amarillo City Commissioner Dr. and Mrs. Brian Eades, $500.

To see Victor Leal’s report covering the Dec. 29, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2009, click here.

To see Victor Leal’s report covering the Jan. 1, 2010 through Jan. 21, 2010, click here.

To see Thomas Walter Price IV’s report covering the Dec. 30, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2009, click here.

To see Thomas Walter Price IV’s report covering the Jan. 1, 2010 through Jan. 21, 2010, click here.