Perry’s Concentrated Donors Pony Up $34 Million Since 1997
| For Immediate Release: | For More Information Contact: |
October 2, 2002 | Craig McDonald, 512-472-9770 |
Austin, TX: Texans for Public Justice today released in-depth studies of the sources of the $66 million that Texas’ front-running gubernatorial candidates raised in recent years.
Governor Rick Perry has raised $34.3 million since 1997, when he launched the lieutenant governor campaign that propelled him into the Governor’s Mansion, according to the report "Governor Perry’s War Chest: Who Said ‘Yes’ To ‘Governor No’?" Perry raised $10.9 million of this money since he become governor through June 2002 (the most recent data available).
Democratic challenger Tony Sanchez raised almost $32 million from August 2001 through June 2002 (the most recent data available). All but $3.6 million of this money came from Sanchez’s own family or from bank loans that Sanchez personally guaranteed, according to the companion report "Tony Sanchez’s War Chest: Who Gives To A $600 Million Man?"
“These twin reports reveal who’s picking up the tab for the most expensive governor’s race in Texas’ history,” said Texans for Public Justice Director Craig McDonald.
Key findings of the new reports include:
o Perry raised $34.3 million since June 1997. This includes: $10.8 million raised for his 1998 lieutenant governor campaign; $9.7 million raised while serving as lieutenant governor; and $10.9 million raised as governor. He raised $1.9 million of his gubernatorial money in June 2001, the month of his “Father’s Day Veto Massacre” of 78 bills.
o Sanchez self-financed 89 percent ($28 million) of the almost $32 million that he raised since August 2001 through contributions made by his family ($10.2 million) and with bank loans that he personally guaranteed ($17.8 million). Donors outside the Sanchez family contributed just $3.6 million, or 11 percent of Sanchez’s total war chest.
o The top 25 overall sources of Perry’s money supplied $5.4 million, or 17 percent of his total take. Sixty Perry donors of $100,000 or more gave $8.5 million, or 25 percent of his total.
o Just three external sources of Sanchez’s campaign money cleared $100,000. These were the two Houston plaintiff law firms that gave $200,000 apiece (the Gallagher Law Firm and Jamail & Kolius) and the executives and PAC of Sanchez’s International Bank of Commerce ($103,774).
o Perry’s top overall sources of money were the Sterling Group ($528,000),1 Bob Perry Homes ($455,000) and Dallas financiers Charles & Sam Wyly ($353,500). He also received $4.7 million from the members and PACs of groups seeking to limit the liabilities of businesses that harm consumers, workers or communities (Texans for Lawsuit Reform and the Texas Civil Justice League).
o When his external money is broken down by industry, “Lawyers & Lobbyists” were Sanchez’s No. 1 donor source, supplying 24 percent of his external money ($829,783). Plaintiff attorneys dominated this sector, giving at least $541,000, compared with at least $98,000 from business defense attorneys.
o “Energy and Natural Resources” was Perry’s No. 1 industrial source, pumping in $5.3 million. Oil and Gas interests, led by Enron ($252,000) and Hunt Oil Co. ($183,500), led this sector.
o Houstonians gave Sanchez the largest geographical share of his external money ($823,539). Laredo came next ($684,153), followed by Dallas ($440,999). Donors living near the Mexican border accounted for 33 percent of Sanchez’s outside money, which may be an unprecedented share of border money for a major statewide campaign.
o Houstonians also led donations to Perry ($7.1 million), followed by Dallas donors ($6.3 million) and Austin ($5.6 million).
TPJ based these reports on campaign disclosures that the two candidates filed with the Texas Ethics Commission (new filings covering July through September 2002 are due on October 7). TPJ’s reports analyze the candidates’ donors by their geographical locations, their industries and the size of their contributions. The reports are available at: http://www.tpj.org/
1 A chemical company takeover firm.
