Democrat Sam Murphey of Harker Heights and Republican Ralph Sheffield of Temple both have raised more than $30,000 each.
Two others hoping to emerge from the Republican primary as their party’s candidate have had more modest campaign contributions. Michael Pearce of Harker Heights has raised $4,876 and John Alaniz of Temple, $100.
Nancy Boston, Bell County Republican Party chairwoman, said she does not get involved with individual campaigns when there is a contested primary.
“All candidates organize their campaigns differently and put more attention in certain areas than others,” she said about the disparity within the party in campaign contributions.
Mrs. Boston said generally when a candidate is successful at fundraising it indicates they have a broad base of support or they are working with people who are seasoned in the political process.
Mrs. Tyroch has had 152 donations made to her campaign with her largest contribution coming from Drayton McLane Jr. who has donated $16,800. Her donations indicate that she has strong support from the home building industry in the area.
She received a $5,350 donation from a political action committee associated with the Temple Area Builders Association and has donations of $1,000 each from builders Steve Wright and John Keilla.
Mrs. Tyroch has also received donations from Dr. Alfred Knight, CEO of Scott & White; Dr. Jerry Bawcom, president of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor; Bill Messer, attorney for the city of Belton; KPA Consulting Engineers; and Carol Mills, executive director of the Belton Economic Development Corp.
In-kind donations to her campaign where made by Centex Technologies, of Killeen, which donated $3,110 of services for her Web site, and Goodway Partners of Temple, which donated $4,805 in office fees for the last three months of 2007.
At the filing deadline, Mrs. Tyroch had spent $16,162 on her campaign.
Sheffield has raised $33,676 and taken out a $12,500 loan for his campaign. He spent $34,947 before the campaign filing date on Tuesday.
With 106 donations, he is the only other candidate with more than 100. His largest donation of $5,000 came from the PAC of the Texas Restaurant Association.
The lone Democrat in the race, Murphey has raised $37,115 and spent $750. He is unopposed in the primary.
“We’re not spending money because we don’t have the competition,” said Arthur Resa, chairman of the Bell County Democratic Party. “We’ll let them battle it out and spend their money.”
Sixty-seven people donated to Murphey’s campaign. His largest donations came from Pat Beard, $2,000; Diane Connell, $2,500; Samuel Kanouse, $2,000; and Bernard Rapoport, $2,000.
“Murphey had a goal of how much money he had to raise, and he has met that goal. Any candidate has to meet goals to get support from within the party,” Resa said about the possibility that later in the race Murphey may benefit from state or national funds from the party.
“The real work starts after the primary, when things heat up,” he said.
Pearce had 31 donations to his campaign. He has spent $9,337, which are nearly double his contributions. Pearce has spent most of his money on political consultants, which includes $1,100 for his Web site.
Pearce’s largest donations came from out of state with Mary Nixon of Rhode Island contributing $2,000 and Joanna Turpin of Virginia, $1,000.
Alaniz only has two contributions for $100 but has spent $13,616 on his campaign. He has spent $4,680 on political consultants and much of the rest on printing services for other campaign materials, such as signs.
Boston said money does not always determine the success of a condidate.
“I’ve seen signs from all the candidates,” she said. “They’re all out there working, but the one that can turn out the vote is the one who will prevail in the primary.”
Mrs. Boston said Republicans could not afford to ignore Murphey who continues to work on his strategy as he waits to learn who his opponent will be.
“At the end of the primary the Republican Party will come together and support our candidate and maintain that seat for the Republican Party,” she said.
promer@temple-telegram.com
