Henderson war chest biggest in Place 5 race

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of articles examining the campaign donations received by local candidates in the Nov. 6 election. In looking at the 30-day campaign finance reports filed by candidates for San Marcos city offices and for Hays County judge, the Daily Record is highlighting the sources of candidates’ largest donations, donations from special interests and/or political action committees, and donations that come from outside San Marcos.

Of the three candidates for San Marcos City Council Place 5, Rick Henderson has the biggest war chest, with a total of $3,660 in campaign donations, according to his 30-day campaign finance report. 

The largest contribution to Henderson’s campaign came from Reagan Dickerson, the developer behind Las Colinas, who gave $1,000. Current Place 5 council member Scott Gregson donated $500, as did an Eric Willis. Henderson’s campaign report does not list an address for Willis, but someone with that same name is the developer of La Cima. 

Two of Henderson’s donors have addresses outside of San Marcos: Virgilio Altamirano, principal of Apante Investments, has an Austin address and donated $300. Apante owns 18 properties in San Marcos. Will Conley, who lives in Wimberley, donated $100. All of Henderson’s monetary campaign donations came from individuals.

The Home Builders Association of Greater Austin HomePAC announced in a press release that it supports Henderson in the Place 5 race. 

Candidate Mark Gleason reports $2,285 in campaign donations. His largest contributions came from Belvin Street resident and Historical Preservation Commission member Diana Baker and Tap Room/The Porch owner Travis Kelsey, who gave $250 each. Liz Rios, owner of Redbud Roasters, Jo’s Cafe and Jo on the Go, donated $150, and local activist Lisa Marie Coppoletta donated $130 to Gleason’s campaign. 

Several donations to Gleason’s campaign came from out of town, with $100 coming in from donors in Bloomington, Illinois; Madison, Missouri; Chula Vista, California; and Smithville, Texas. All of Gleason’s monetary campaign contributions came from individuals. 

Jocabed Marquez, Ph.D., is the third candidate for Place 5 and has raised $1,637 in campaign donations as of Oct. 9. Her largest donation was $650, from Indigenous Cultures Institute leaders Mario and Maria Rocha. Her second largest donation is $300 from the Hays County Women’s Political Caucus.

Two $100 donations came from people with out-of-town addresses: Jesse Garner, whose address is in Austin but who teaches at Texas State University, and Erica Fernandez, whose address is in Manchester, Connecticut. Other out-of-town donations are $36 from Victoria, $20 from Austin and two $36 donations from Houston. Marquez’s monetary donations all came from individuals except for the donation from the Hays County Women’s Political Caucus.