Mayoral candidates report donations

Editor’s Note: This is the fourth 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.

In the San Marcos mayoral race, two well-known figures are competing against each other: incumbent John Thomaides and council member Jane Hughson. According to their 30-day campaign finance reports, Hughson has raised more funds, with a total of $9,490 to Thomaides’ $8,185, but the current mayor has a campaign fund balance totaling $18,804.93. 

Thomaides’ sizeable fund balance is due in part to more than $19,000 in donations received in the last half of 2017 and reported in January. The largest donations during that time period came from Highpointe Trace LLC and the San Marcos Professional Firefighters Political Action Committee, each of which donated $5,000 to Thomaides’ campaign. The San Marcos Police Officers Association donated $2,500, as did Mark and Amy Shields, who list an Austin address. Mark Shields is named as a partner in Primus Real Estate. By comparison, Hughson’s January report recorded only $500 in donations, all from San Marcos residents.

Thomaides’ largest contributions during the reporting period came from Las Colinas developer Reagan Dickerson, Brookfield Residential executive Dirk Gosda and the Cobb Fendley Political Action Committee, who each donated $1,000. Gosda lives in Austin and maintains a P.O. box in Aspen, Colorado; Cobb Fendley is a Houston civil engineering firm. A $500 donation came from Ross Milloy, president of the Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council, and another $500 came from John and Amy Doucet, who are executives with engineering firm Doucet and Associates and who list an address in Dripping Springs. San Marcos residents Steve and Amy Stanfield donated $300 to Thomaides’ campaign. 

Besides the Cobb Fendley PAC, Gosda and the Doucets, the only donors from outside San Marcos were Bill and Carolyn Bingham, who list an Austin address and donated $200. The Cobb Fendley PAC was the only monetary donor listed that is not an individual. 

Hughson’s largest donation came from Don and Betty Jack Rains, who gave $1,000. Landowner John Meeks, whose proposal for the development of land his family owns into student housing earlier this year was denied, donated $750. Historical Preservation Commission member and Belvin Street resident Thea Dake contributed $500, as did former San Marcos Mayor David Chiu. San Marcos resident Preston Dillon donated $400. 

The only out-of-town donors to Hughson’s campaign are Ardie Schneider, who lists an address in Austin and donated $100, and Ethel Mihalkanin of Glendale, Arizona, who also donated $100. All of Hughson’s monetary donations came from individuals. 

The most recent campaign finance reports for all city of San Marcos candidates can be found on the city's website. Campaign finance reports for the sitting mayor and council members can be found by going to the city's website and clicking on the officials’ photos.