By Andy Sevilla
With election season in full swing, two political newcomers challenging established Buda council incumbents have by far outraised the sitting office holders, according to campaign finance reports due 30 days before the November election.
Evan Ture, a 27-year-old engineer, raised more than $1,100 in his bid to unseat Place 5 council incumbent Eileen Altmiller, according to his latest campaign finance report.
Altmiller, 64, who is retired and first took office in 2012, has not raised any political contributions for her reelection campaign, her campaign finance report states.
Altmiller said Monday night she has not and will not solicit nor accept any campaign contributions for her reelection bid.
Greg Henry, 39, owner of Willie’s Joint on Main Street, has raised $400 in his attempt to best Place 6 council incumbent Bobby Lane, according to his latest campaign finance report.
Meanwhile, Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Lane, 63, an auditor who first took office in 2000, has raised no money to advance his reelection campaign, according to his campaign finance report.
Lane said Monday night he has not actively solicited campaign contributions. He said his campaign expenditures would likely come out of his own pocket, though the opportunity exists that he may accept contributions down the road.
And with the road to the election quickly coming to an end, Ture has surpassed all candidates for office in campaign contribution collections.
Ture’s largest contributor is Julie Renfro, owner of Tavern on Main, who donated $400 to Ture on Sept. 24, according to the report.
He also received $300 from George Changos, $100 each from Amy Knight, Scott P. Ogle, and Paul Stracklen, according to the report. Donors who contributed $50 or less to Ture’s campaign include Michael Carroll, Kay Bailey, Quinn Galloway and Debra Mylius.
According to Ture’s reports, his campaign also has $200 in pledged contributions — $100 from Jeff Mensing and $50 each from Dan Nelson and Kay Bailey.
Ture reported one expenditure, $88.99, to print campaign business cards. He also reported lending his campaign $25.
Ture maintained $765 in his campaign war chest as of Sept. 25, according to the report.
Altmiller, on the other hand, has no money in her campaign account and expended just over $550 on advertising expenses in her bid for reelection as of Sept. 25, according to her latest report.
Henry and Lane both reported zero expenditures through the reporting period.
Buda voters will decide Nov. 4 who will take the Place 5 and 6 seats on the council, as well as approve or deny five propositions totaling $55 million for infrastructure, roads, drainage and park improvements.
Buda Mayor Todd Ruge, who is up for reelection this year, will return for another term as the city’s highest elected officer after going unchallenged in this contest.
