by ANDY SEVILLA
Kyle City Council candidate Joe Bacon is leading opponents, Bill Sinor and Chad Benninghoff, in money raised and spent thus far in the political race that is sure to seat a new face on the dais.
Bacon’s contributions from people within the city limits include one himself, one from his wife Michelle Waldman, and another from local resident Lila Knight. All other donations for Bacon are from outside city limits.
Bacon and Waldman contributed $500, each, to Bacon’s campaign in February, and Knight contributed $200, according to campaign finance reports.
Bacon reported accepting $2,165.94 in total political contributions through April 11 for this campaign season.
For February, Bacon reported taking in $1,200. For March, Bacon reported accepting $787 – $200 each from Chad and Angie England of Bryan, Todd and Carrie England of Austin, and Bob and Pat England of Bryan; $100 from Jennifer Bacon of Austin and $87 from Elaine Steelhler of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Bacon also reported $96.89 in contributions received from donations of $50 or less. State rules say a person contributing $50 or less does not have to be identified.
All in all, based on the numbers Bacon reported, he took in $2,083.89 – $82.05 less than what he identified as his total political contributions for this reporting period.
Sinor did not fill out the second page of his cover sheet of the campaign finance report, which identifies total political contributions, total political expenditures and the total political contributions a candidate is left with as of the last day of the reporting period.
Sinor’s report did, however, identify a $100 contribution from Terry Taylor of Kyle.
Benninghoff identified $89.34 in total political contributions, though he reported $9.18 was from Mayor Lucy Johnson for breakfast and coffee, and $80.16 in political expenses made from personal funds that he expects to be reimbursed for.
Benninghoff also identified those same $80.16 as his total political expenditures for this reporting period. That money was used for advertising and a voter list fee, according to his campaign finance report.
Bacon reported $1,819.73 in total political expenditures.
For his expenditures, Bacon reported $1,490.65 in four separate advertising cost transactions. He also reported $132.05 in political expenditures made from personal funds – $50 to the Lions Club and $82.05 in advertising costs – boxes identifying intended reimbursement for those expenses were not checked.
When adding his political expenditures and political expenditures made from personal funds, Bacon identifies $1,622.70 in expenses – $197.03 less than he reports in the cover sheet of his report.
Sinor reported $297 in political expenditures in advertising costs, $203 of that were made from personal funds, according to his report.
Bacon, Benninghoff and Sinor are competing for the District 3 seat on the council being vacated by council member Brad Pickett, who decided earlier this year he would not seek reelection.
Incumbent Diane Hervol is the lone candidate in the District 1 race. The only action her campaign report shows is a $300 contribution from Knight. Hervol maintains $880.82 in her campaign war chest as of the last day of this reporting period.