Governor Perry’s War Chest: Who Said ‘Yes’ To ‘Governor No’?
I. Key Findings
| [ Governor Perry’s War Chest: Who Said ‘Yes’ To ‘Governor No’? I. Key Findings |
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- Governor Rick Perry raised $34.3 million from June 1997 through June 2002. He raised: $10.9 million for his 1998 lieutenant governor campaign; $9.7 million while serving as lieutenant governor; and $10.9 million since his gubernatorial ascent.
- Much of Perry’s war chest came from highly concentrated sources. The top 25 overall sources of his money provided 17 percent (or $5.4 million) of his total take. The 60 donors-who contributed $100,000 or more kicked in $8.5 million, or 25 percent of his total.
- The top three overall sources of Perry’s money are the Sterling Group ($528,000), homebuilder Bob Perry Homes ($455,000) and the diversified businesses of Dallas financiers Charles & Sam Wyly ($353,500).
- Perry raised $1.9 million in the days surrounding his infamous Father’s Day Massacre, when he vetoed 78 bills passed during the 2001 legislative session.
- Perry collected $4.7 million from “tort dodgers,” the PACs and members of Texans for Lawsuit Reform and the Texas Civil Justice League.
- The Energy and Natural Resources sector was Perry’s largest source of industry money, pumping in more than $5.3 million. Oil and Gas interests, led by Enron ($252,000) and Hunt Oil Co. ($183,500), led this sector’s contributions.
- The Finance industry was Perry’s No. 2 source of business funds, with $3.9 million.
- Houstonians gave Perry the most money ($7.1 million), followed by donors in Dallas ($6.3 million) and Austin ($5.6 million).