Fundraising close in race for Travis County Judge, Commissioners’ seats

It’s shaping up to be a tight race for Travis County Judge, if fundraising this early means anything to a campaign.

 

After almost 25 years on the Travis County Commissioners Court, Judge Sam Biscoe is stepping down from the office, leaving a powerful seat open. Currently, two heavy hitters are vying for the seat, which will be open in March 2014.

 

Former Pct. 2 Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt hopes to become the first female County Judge after 15 years of public service (six on the Commissioners Court.) She is squaring off against fellow Democrat Andy Brown, who was most recently the chair of the Travis County Democratic Party – a title he had held since 2008.

 

Brown’s campaign reports raising more than $250,000 for the race, so far. Of that figure, $178,412.88 has been raised during this reporting period, which began in January of this year.

 

After announcing her intention to run in May, Eckhardt stepped down on June 1 from the County Commission in order to run for Judge. When she began her campaign, Brown had already raised about $72,000.

 

Since then, her campaign has raised $157,081. Those supporters include some notable names such as deceased Democratic activist Anne McAfee, Shudde Fath, former Democratic State Senators Babe Schwartz, Gonzalo Barrientos, and Hector Uribe, former Austin City Council Member Jennifer Kim, Downtown Austin Alliance Executive Director Charlie Betts, Central Health Board Vice-Chair Brenda Coleman-Beattie, Former Travis County Commissioners Valerie Bristol and Karen Huber and Former Travis County Budget Director Leroy Nellis

 

Brown’s donation list also features some familiar names, including current Pct. 2 Commissioner and former Austin Mayor Bruce Todd, former Travis County Judge Bill Aleshire, Ray Benson, and political consultants David Butts, Mark Littlefield and Glen Maxey. Brown’s campaign also received donations from the Austin/Travis County EMS Employees Association PAC and the Margaret Gomez Campaign.

 

Despite Brown’s head start, as of July 15, both campaigns have almost identical balances on hand, with Eckhardt’s campaign maintaining a balance of $132,065.33 in their coffers, and Brown’s campaign with a balance of $134,861.14.

 

The Republican side of the race for county judge exists, but is much less high stakes at this point, with candidate James “Mike” McNamara reporting contributions of $275 to date, though he has also taken out loans in the amount of $6,000 to finance his campaign. McNamara also ran for Judge in 2010.

 

The race for Precinct 2 County Commissioner is also starting to heat up. That seat is currently held by appointee Todd, but come March at least three people will be vying for it.

 

The most familiar name in the race is probably Brigid Shea, who last ran for Mayor after an almost 16-year hiatus from public office. During that time Shea worked as an environmentalist and consultant. Prior to that, Shea had served on the City Council. Since January, Shea has raised $105,789 for her campaign.  

 

As of the close of the period, Shea reported just over $83,000 on hand.

 

Richard Jung, who served on the city’s charter Revision Committee, was board chair of the Asian American Resource Center, and served on the Austin Travis County EMS Advisory Board. His campaign reports raising just over $93,000 this period.

 

Garry Brown, aide to former Pct. 3 Commissioner Karen Huber reported that he’s raised $22,967. Brown has $7456.71 on hand.

 

Another candidate, Jay Wiley, reports no contributions, only a $15,000 loan from himself to his campaign.