Campaign finance reports

It’s the beginning of the year for elections, which means that the campaign finance reports roll out. If you are a political wonk who enjoys poring over who owns a candidate, this is a giddy time for you.

Fortunately, many sites follow the money and report how our officeholders and candidates make and spend their campaign cash. The website OpenSecrets.org is a good place to search for such information on federal candidates while the Texas Ethics Commission keeps tabs on what our state candidates report. 

Jan. 15 was the first filing deadline for state races and their reports were made public at www.ethics.state.tx.us/dfs/search_CF.htm. 

As usual, the race for state representative gives a peek at what our friends and neighbors donate to the would-be leaders, listed for the world to see. Sometimes just as interesting is looking at what the candidates spend their money on. So say, if $10,000 is being spent on polling data, it’s a good chance that the race is a tight one.

But what does it say about a candidate that spends half as much on food and gas? 

Republican Brent Golemon of Bastrop, who is challenging State Rep. John Cyrier of Lockhart — again — could maybe tell you. In a campaign that has never ended in Golemon’s mind, the district-trotting candidate has amassed an impressive odometer reading and tab for fast food. 

The challenger has been collecting campaign contributions since last summer, and his report states $33,308.77 in monetary political contributions. Of that, $22,477.32 is listed as political expenditures.

When a person gives to a candidate, that candidate can spend that cash on a number of items and events connected to the campaign. Backers would hope that money would be spent on signs, advertising and maybe a bit of consulting, but those hard-earned dollars can just as easily be spent on burgers, barbecue and cappuccino.

In Golemon’s case, he has spent $558.17 on food at 47 stops across the district. Those expenses range from $39.09 spent at Buc-Ee’s in Bastrop to $1.70 dropped at the Cedar Creek Country Store. From Sept. 14-Nov. 30 alone, 11 stops were made by Golemon at that particular Buc-Ee’s, spending $162.04 in food as listed on the report.

His travel bill is much more impressive, giving him what is essentially a donor-provided vacation across District 17. Golemon reported $4,881.60 in expenses — listed on the report as “Travel in District” — paid directly to himself. 

Adding up those five reimbursements gives a total of 10,948 miles traveled in the district from Aug. 5-Dec. 31. Note that driving from New York City to L.A. will only get you 2,789 miles traveled, an amount Golemon beat in December alone.

Though it figures that these reimbursements are for fuel, any number of repairs to his vehicle could have been billed to the campaign. Some politicians even bill rental cars to their campaign account. 

And though there are plenty of free roads on those 10,948 miles traveled, he still managed to rack up $56.87 in tolls.

Once again, there’s nothing in state law that says a candidate can’t spend donated money on whatever they please. But Golemon does have a report record of rich gas reimbursements, meals, and even renting his own house to himself.

In his first finance report posted during his first race for the state house in January 2015, he had an expense of $168.50 listed as “Office Overhead/Rental Expense” for the address of 117 Mokuauia Ct. in Bastrop. That address is also his home address, and the amount was again paid to himself. 

Among the remaining thousands in expenses are the usual campaign signs, consulting, office supplies and postage. He even has time to put in a $63.95 “Rick Green event” expense and a $3,529.44 payment to John Higgins, who is a former chief of staff to former Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt. Higgins, if you recall, was indicted in April 2013 of 12 felony charges stemming from allegedly making improper travel reimbursements while employed by Kleinschmidt in the Texas Legislature. 

Golemon’s payment to Higgins was for “Sign Placement and Materials.”