Highballing toward the March 1 Republican Primary in the 45-county 31st Senatorial District, the Kevin Sparks campaign train has swooped up $905,772 and spent $463,160 in what’s no doubt a bid to avert a May 24 runoff.
Running flat-out for an open seat in the Texas Senate in Austin is an expensive deal these days and Sparks is pouring on the coal in his dash to succeed the retiring longtime Sen. Kel Seliger of Amarillo.
The 57-year-old oilman’s checks have included $4,000 to Blakemore & Associates political consultants of Houston, $18,459 to Fund Raising Solutions of Dallas, $27,144 to the Build a Sign Co. of Austin and $284,163 to Strategic Media Services of Arlingon, Va.
He’s way ahead of his nearest competitor in the money-raising game, Stormy Bradley of Big Spring, who told the Texas Ethics Commission Tuesday that she had garnered $39,347 from contributors through Dec. 31.
With no Democrat in the race, the other hopefuls are Amarilloans Jesse Quackenbush and Tim Reid.
Top Sparks backers are Midlanders Ernest Angelo and Robert Davenport Jr. with $10,000 each, Tim Dunn and Bill Kent with $50,000 each, Jim and Paula Henry with $30,000, William L. Holmes with $25,000, Dennis Johnson with $10,000, Monroe Rathbone with $12,500, Don Sparks with $100,000, Jeff Sparks with $50,000, Kyle and Jamie Stallings with $100,000 and Carrol Thomas with $15,000, Odessans Dick and Amelia Saulsbury with $35,000 and Bubba Saulsbury with $30,000, Ben Brigham and Don Dyer of Austin with $10,000 and $25,000, respectively, Cody Campbell of Fort Worth with $10,000, Ryan Sitton of Friendswood and the Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC of Austin with $25,000 each and Transcontinental Energy Services of Houston with $8,000.
Sparks and his wife Jill have invested $40,000 in his campaign.
Other contributors through Dec. 31 were Andrew Armstrong, Midland, $2,500; Brian Arnold, Midland, $2,500; Roger Barnhart, Odessa, $950; Kenneth Beattie, Midland, $500; Matthew Bergman, Midland, $500; Laurie and Miles Boldrick, Midland, $5,000; Clay and Terrianna Bomer, Midland, $5,000; Beau Boren, Midland, $1,000; Wesley Bownds, Midland, $2,500; Eric Boyt, Fort Worth, $5,000; Bruce Brady, Midland, $500; Cary Brown, Midland, $1,000; Dale Brown, Midland, $1,000; George Clay, Wichita Falls, $5,000.
Also, Jerry Conner, Odessa, $1,100; Linda Cowden, Midland, $1,000; Jose Cuevas, Midland, $2,500; Greg Daman, Midland, $500; Mark and Anne Darville, Odessa, $600; Ferrell Davis, Midland, $1,000; Gerald and Cremer Davis, Midland, $5,000; Kari Dingler, Midland, $750; Kevin Doan, Midland, $1,100; Dalton Donaldson, Midland, $550; Dale Douglas, Midland, $500; Scott Dufford, Midland, $1,000; Lee Dunn, Midland, $5,000; Luke and Lindsey Dunn, Midland, $5,000; John and Heather Echols, Midland, $1,000.
Also, David Ellis, Amarillo, $500; Donald Evans, Midland, $1,000; Bob Fair, Midland, $5,000; Fasken Management, Midland, $5,000; Frosty and Rhonda Gilliam, Odessa, $5,000; Jeff Albright, Midland, $1,500; Gary Glasscock, Midland, $1,500; Tom Green, Midland, $500; Craig Gualtiere, Amarillo, $1,000; Frances Shaller Haley, Canadian, $1,000; Jim and Lauren Haley, Canadian, $1,000; Jack Harper, Midland, $2,500; Vim Head, Katy, $5,000; Pat Henderson, Midland, $1,250; Deborah Hightower, Midland, $500; Lisa Holifield, Midland, $1,100.
Also, Chris Holtzgraf, San Angelo, $1,000; Houston Police Officers Union PAC, $1,000; Howard Neal, Katy, $1,000; Kenneth and Elaine Huse, Midland, $500; Matthew and Kristina Johnson, Midland, $2,500; Billy Kelley, Midland, $1,000; Glenn Kennedy, Odessa, $500; Frank and Helen Kisner, Midland, $1,000; Juandelle Lacy Roberts, Midland, $1,000; Jerry Larned, Abilene, $500; Todd Lester, West Lake Hills, $1,000.
Also, John and Gayla Mabee, Midland, $5,000; Steven Mach, Houston, $1,000; Jeannie and Taylor Mayne, Midland, $1,000; Jake McAlister, Midland, $5,000; Scott McAninch, Midland, $500; Dr. James McCown, Amarillo, $500; Karla and James Milson, $2,500; Pam and Chris Morphew, Midland, $2,500; Gaines Myer, Midland, $1,000; John Norwood, Midland, $2,500; Chris Oldham, Fort Worth, $5,000; Dr. Cody Oldham, Midland, $5,000; B.J. Parrish, Midland, $500; Stephanie Pipkin, Horseshoe Bay, $1,000.
Also, Ronnie Platt, The Hills, $1,000; David Pond, Perryton, $1,000; David Porter, Giddings, $500; Glenn Prescott, Midland, $500; Steven Pruett, Midland, $500; Margaret Purvis, Midland, $3,500; J. and Mitzi Purvis, Midland, $2,000; Charlie and Beth Qualia, Midland, $500; David Raines, Midland, $1,000; Hal Rasmussen, Midland, $1,000; Ed Runyon, Midland, $1,000; Mark and Jill Saulsbury, Odessa, $5,000; Save America PAC, Beverly, Mass., $5,000.
Also, Frank Sitton, Lubbock, $1,000; David Smith, Midland, $1,000; Jimmy and Brenda Smith, Midland, $500; John Sparks, Midland, $5,000; Todd Sparks, Midland, $5,000; Nancy Spear, Midland, $2,500; Angela Spencer, Midland, $500; Gyene Spivey, Gruver, $500; Todd Stallings, Midland, $500; Robert Stepenson, Midland, $500; Jordan Strebeck, Midland, $1,000; Darla Taylor, Midland, $5,000; Nicholas Taylor, Midland, $1,000; Tommy Taylor, Midland, $1,000.
Also, Toby Todd, Plano, $500; Don Tomlin, Midland, $5,000; Brent and Janet Tregellas, Booker, $500; Diemer True, Casper, Wyo., $1,000; Joe Venneman, Spearman, $1,000; Clint Walker, Midland, $1,000; Denzil West, Midland, $5,000; Jack Wilkinson, Midland, $2,500; William Bateman, Midland, $500; Dr. Chris Wilson, Midland, $1,000; and Calvin and Amelia Zugg, Odessa, $5,000.
