By Andy Sevilla

A Louisiana doctor, who brought national attention to Kyle with his civil suit against the city and its police chief, has now thrown his money behind a candidate for the city’s highest elected office. 

Glen Hurlston, an anesthesiologist at Byrd Regional Medical Center in Leesville, Louisiana, donated $2,500 to Brad Pickett’s run for Kyle Mayor, according to the candidate’s latest campaign finance reports. 

Two contributions came into Pickett’s campaign between April 11 and May 2, including Hurlston’s donation. He also received $1,000 from Brenda J. Goering of South Jordan, Utah, according to the report. 

Hurlston filed a civil rights suit against the city of Kyle and its police chief, Jeff Barnett, alleging the top cop carried out a campaign of harassment against the doctor while having an affair with the man’s estranged wife.

Kyle city officials and Barnett’s attorney called the suit “frivolous” and “without merit.”

The matter surrounds a 2012 New Years Day arrest where Hurlston was charged with felony domestic assault for allegedly choking his estranged wife in Princeton, the north Texas town where Barnett once served as police chief. Barnett was already employed in Kyle when Hurlston was arrested.

Hurlston ultimately pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge in the matter.

Pickett said in a phone interview Tuesday that Kyle’s attorney explained the city’s position on what it calls a frivolous lawsuit. He also said Hurlston’s contribution to his campaign is just that and if elected he will uphold and defend the city charter and will only act in Kyle’s best interest. Hurlston first contacted Pickett while he was on the city council. 

Hurlston’s said his involvement in Kyle politics from afar comes out of a desire for a better world for his children, he wrote in an email. He said he and his friends “believe there is something wrong in Kyle and we want it to be a better place.” 

Hurlston’s anesthesiology nurse, Candi Funderburk of Florien, Louisiana, who the doctor said has been a friend of 15 years, also contributed $2,500 to Pickett’s mayoral campaign on March 4, according to Pickett’s April 10 report. 

A police report alleging campaign finance improprieties with several of Pickett’s donations was filed in Kyle April 21 and referred to the Texas Rangers two days later. That investigation is ongoing.

The criminal complaint alleges Pickett accepted a donation from a corporation; he accepted a donation of $1,500 from the owners of property in south Kyle where city council has twice denied permission to build a truck stop. That matter has since been cleared.

The complaint also alleges Hurlston provided Funderburk with the $2,500 to contribute to Pickett’s campaign. 

Pickett said he doesn’t know Funderburk, but he received a $2,500 personal check from her. Hurlston said in an email that his friend made the contribution out of her own funds. 

“Candi made a contribution in her name not mine and I made one in my name, we both discussed Brad Pickett and we both contributed isn’t that what normal people do,” Hurlston wrote. “It’s that simple.”

“Candi works for me, I’m her boss I write her checks what she does with that money is her choice,” Hurlston wrote in a subsequent email. “I employ lots of people who work for me if they chose to write a check to a candidate they do so of their own free will.”

According to his latest report, Pickett expended $2,895.57 in software and advertising costs for his mayoral campaign. He remained with $730.21 as of May 2.

Todd Webster, who also is in the running for Kyle mayor, received $2,591.99 in contributions between April 9 and May 2, according to his latest campaign finance report. 

Webster’s largest contributions this reporting period came from Chris Hoser and Thomas Turk, each contributing $500. He also reported receiving $250 each from Lucinda Saxon of Pflugerville and Karen Reagan of Austin.

Webster spent $1,431.87 on advertising, printing and event expenses during the same reporting period, according to his latest report. He remains with $2,327.76 in his campaign war chest.

James Adkins, the third candidate for the city’s highest elected office, reported receiving $550 between April 11 and May 2, according to his latest report. 

Adkins reported receiving $200 from Jojo Abraham of Austin, $150 from David C. Mahn of Austin, and $200 in total contributions of $50 or less during this reporting period.

Adkins reported spending $958.67 in total political expenditures, but only provided accounting for $199.62 of those expenditures, describing the expense as fuel for in-district travel. 

Adkins remains with $38.92 as of May 2, the report states.

Election day is May 10.