Reports mum on contributors' occupations, employers

Forms tell a tale of two political bases

Waco – Filings in the McLennan County Elections Office show that the two Republican candidates for Sheriff are silent on the professional and occupational affiliations of their contributors.

Blanks on the Campaign Finance Report forms that call for a listing of the contributors' “Principal Occupation” and “Employer” are left blank by the Treasurers for both Randy Plemons, chief deputy at the McLennan County Sheriff's Office, and retired Deputy U.S. Marshal Parnell McNamara.

Nevertheless, the records paint a clear picture of the vast differences in the two candidates' political bases.

With a war chest more than twice the size of that raised by the Plemons organization, Mr. McNamara's nearly 200 contributors represent a wide cross section of the business and professional community throughout McLennan County. He has raised a total of $76,080; records show total political expenditures of $34,472.79. The campaign finance report lists no outstanding loans and a zero balance of total political contributions maintained as of the last day of the reporting period.

Running a distant second in the category of raising campaign funds, Mr. Plemons has raised total political contributions of $34,084 with political expenditures of $29,012. There is an outstanding non-collateralized loan of $15,000 from First National Bank of Central Texas due to mature in April. Total political contributions maintained as of January 15 are $5,071.70

In-kind contributions of $3,500 from Donald Dwyer of 1127 Joy Dr. in Waco; in-kind contributions of $3,000, $758.11, and $970 from Sheriff Larry Lynch and Frances Lynch of 10020 Forest View Dr. are also listed.

Campaign Treasurer James R. Hawkins, owner of the real estate enterprise firm JHawk and a former principal in the mortgage securities packager and trading firm of First City Financial Corp, has contributed $1,000, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Randy T. Gray.

Major department heads at the Sheriff's Office have made contributions, as well as many staff members, for a total of about 100 contributors.