February 16th, 2011
Guerrero spends half as much as Thomaides in 2010 mayoral victory

San Marcos Mayor Daniel Guerrero, left, and his 2010 electoral opponent, John Thomaides, right. File photo.

By SEAN BATURA
News Reporter

Daniel Guerrero won the mayoral race in San Marcos last November after spending half as much on the venture as his opponent, John Thomaides, according to campaign finance reports from July 15, 2010, to Jan. 15, 2011.

Guerrero reported receiving $32,890.21 in political contributions and incurring $24,385.56 in political expenditures from July 30 to Jan. 15. These amounts include $6,909.26 in-kind contributions, all from the latest reporting period, which encompasses Oct. 26 to Jan. 15.

In his Jan. 15 report, Guerrero reported $9,025.26 in contributions ($0 of which comprised contributions of $50 or less), $3,645.73 in expenditures, an ending balance of $1,246.84, and an outstanding loan principle amount of $0. Guerrero’s report covered the period of Oct. 26 through Jan. 15.

Thomaides reported receiving $21,055 and expending $48,478.92 from July 16 to Jan. 15, not including a $10,000 loan for which he owed $9,200 by the end of the reporting period. Thomaides received the loan from San Marcos investor Scott Gregson, who is the publisher of San Marcos Local News. Thomaides’ aforementioned amounts include $350 of in-kind contributions, all from the latest reporting period. Thomaides began the campaign with $18,378.79, which he reported as his cash on hand as of his July 15 report.

In his Jan. 15 report, Thomaides reported $4,700 in contributions ($300 of which comprised contributions $50 or less) $17,665.09 in expenditures, an ending balance of $404.87, and outstanding loan principle amount of $9,200. Thomaides’ report, his final report, covered the period of Oct. 24 through Jan. 31.

Guerrero won the election with 3,460 votes (50.3 percent) to 3,419 for Thomaides (49.7 percent).

Former Mayor Susan Narvaiz, in her Jan. 15 finance report, cited $16,572 in contributions and $16,081.32 in political expenditures between July 1 and Dec. 31 2010. Narvaiz announced that she would not seek a fourth term last July 28, two days after Guerrero announced that he would run.

Narvaiz’s latest report reveals donations from developers who have received or are seeking entitlements to properties proposed for controversial housing developments such as Windemere Ranch, Paso Robles, Purgatory Creek, and the Buie tract.

Narvaiz favored the sought-after entitlements, while Thomaides, recently a councilmember, generally voted in opposition. Contributions to Narvaiz’ officeholder account from individuals and entities associated with the aforementioned developments totaled more than $3,300.

Narvaiz made donations to the successful political campaigns of Councilmembers Shane Scott and Kim Porterfield. Scott received $500 from Narvaiz’ officeholder account and Porterfield received $300 from Narvaiz’s officeholder account. Both won council elections last November.

Political candidates are required to file finance reports 30 days before an election and eight days before an election. Officeholders are required to at least file semiannual reports, which are usually due by Jan. 15 and July 15. The recent Jan. 15 deadline was extended to Jan. 18.

Both mayoral candidates received thousands in contributions from outside San Marcos. Guerrero received $10,260 in out-of-town money from July 30 to Jan. 15, including $900 donated after he won the election. The $900 includes a $400 contribution from Austinite Jim Wimberley and $500 from LANPAC of Houston.

Thomaides received $5,400 in out-of-town money between July 16 2010 and Jan. 15 2011, according to his reports. The out-of-town donations mentioned in his January report include $200 from Col. Brian Ray of Austin, $350 from Scott Polikov of Fort Worth, $250 from Ed Bolton of Canyon Lake, and $250 from Frank Garcia of San Antonio.

The San Marcos Professional Fire Fighters Association’s political action committee (SMPFFA-PAC) donated the most money of any entity or person in the mayoral race. SMPFFA-PAC gave Guerrero $8,000 between July 30 and Jan. 15. SMPFFA-PAC did not support Thomaides, who, unlike Guerrero, opposed the firefighter collective bargaining agreement executed with the city in December 2009. SMPFFA-PAC was in favor of the agreement and has attempted to influence previous elections, as is its right under state law.

Narvaiz supported the meet and confer contract executed between the city and its police in December 2009. SMPFFA-PAC gave $1,250 to Narvaiz before she officially left office — it was after her last council meeting, though before Guerrero was sworn in.

Those who each donated $1,000 to Narvaiz’s officeholder account include Austinites Marc A. Rodriguez, Gary Farmer, Janelle Braun, David Bynum, Larry Peel, and Robert McDonald. Others who donated $1,000 include James Richards Jr. of Houston and Chris Richardson of Hempstead. Peel donated $1,000 to Narvaiz before she left office, as well.

Other large donations to the Guerrero campaign from July to January included $2,500 from Paul J. Bury III of Austin and $2,000 from TREPAC/Texas Association of Realtors.

Receiving the most in expenditures on the last three of Guerrero’s reports included the Austin-based Patterson and Company, which received $11,177.56 to Patterson to cover $7,881.39 for advertising and $3,296.17 for “consulting expense” and “research, writing, postcards” specifically, as listed under “description.” Sign Arts, a San Marcos company, received $6,782.47 for yard signs, a billboard, and related supplies.

Recipients of the most campaign funds in Guerrero’s Jan. 15 report were Patterson, which received $3,296.17 for “consulting expense,” and Sign Arts, which received $349.60 for “yard signs – billboard.”

Some of Thomaides’ most generous contributors included Theodore and Thea Dake of San Marcos, who provided him with $2,350 between July 16 and Jan. 15. Gregson made in-kind and cash contributions to Thomaides totaling $2,589.56 on the July 15 report.

Thomaides received no contributions after the Nov. 2 election, according to his January report. James and Diana Baker of San Marcos contributed $2,300 to Thomaides, while Ed and Bonnie Longcope of San Marcos, Willie Thomas of San Marcos and Jim Wimberly of Austin each contributed $1,000.

Thomaides’ greatest expenditure on the combined reports was $26,890 to the Thompson Group of Little Rock, AK, for advertising. Thomaides also gave $8,582.98 to Paragon Printing of Austin for printing services. He spent $2,838 for the services of the Victory Store of Davenport, IA, for printing and $2,800 with Advanced Customer Service of Nashville for polling.

The leading recipient of money from the Thomaides campaign on the Jan. 15 report was Thompson Group, which received $10,000 for advertising-related work. Paragon Printing got $3,856.28 for mail pieces, an advertising-related expense. Matt Lochman of San Marcos received $1,500 for “mail piece design,” which is advertising-related work. Another $800 went to pay on the Gregson loan.