Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
|
| FREESTONE COUNTY RESIDENTS packed the courthouse district courtroom Monday evening to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. |
The reports filed in the county clerk’s office cover all of 2007, with most of the cost attributable to fees paid to political parties when candidates signed up for election.
Late entries into politics, those candidates to signed up after Dec. 31, did not have to submit expense and contribution reports this month. Another round of financial reports, for all candidates, is due Feb. 4.
The official spending the most money over the past year is county commissioner Luke Ward, precinct one. Ward political costs of $1,552 for holding office, and shows no contributions.
Ward, a Republican, is not opposed in seeking re-election this year.
Costs for the commissioner are: The Fairfield Recorder, $50; Teague Chronicle, $40; Freestone Times, $458; filing fee, $750; Freestone County Fair Association, $181; and Freestone county flowers fund, $21.
Constable Buck Bonner, precinct one, is not opposed for re-election this year but spent $1,000 for political purposes. A breakdown of those costs is: reimbursement, $500; Recorder, $50; Chronicle, $25; Times, $50; and filing, $375.
Bonner shows a $500 contribution from Don J. McFarlin of Port Arthur.
Commissioner Stanley Gregory, precinct three, spent $932 over the past year, shown as: Recorder, $50; Chronicle, $50; Times, $82; and filing, $750.
Gregory listed no contributions for 2007.
Two Republicans are seeking the nomination for the precinct three commissioner job, and the right to face Gregory, a Democrat, in November. The GOP hopefuls, Charles Morgan and Kurt Kropp, filed for election after Dec. 31 and were not required to submit campaign finance reports this month.
Sheriff Ralph Billings, a Democrat, spent $843 over the past year and received no contributions. His expenses are: Recorder, $11; Chronicle, $32; Freestone County Fair Association, $100; and filing, $750.
Two challengers for sheriff, Democrat Marc Raymond and Republican Tommy Page, filed for the election after Dec. 31 and did not have to submit campaign finance reports this month.
The lone candidate for Freestone county attorney, Chris Martin, shows $850 in contributions and $1,250 in expenses.
Expenses for Martin, a Republican, are a single item, $1,250 for the filing fee. The candidate shows contributions of: Bill and Linda Turner, $200; Stephen James, $250; Glynn Harris, $200; and Gary Schlemmer, $200.
Incumbent County Tax Assessor Lisa James is running unopposed this year and shows a lone expense of $750 for her filing fee.
Constable L.B. Gamble, precinct three, is unopposed for re-election and shows $525 in expenses, broken down as: Recorder, $100; Times, $50; and filing, $375. He lists no contributions.
Constable Lynn Clary, precinct two, also is unopposed this year. His report shows a lone expense of $375 for his filing fee and no contributions.
Clary, Gamble and Mrs. James are all Democrats.
Campaign expenses reports must be filed 30 days before the March 4 primary election and eight days before the election.