Former State Rep. Kitchen leads fundraising in District 5

Former State Rep. Ann Kitchen has greatly outpaced the other candidates in the race to represent South Austin’s District 5. Her contribution and expenditure report show she has raised more than $42,000 and lent her campaign $20,700. After spending nearly $40,000 she had about $23,000 remaining June 30, the final day of the reporting period.

Kitchen said, “I’m very happy about this. We had over 250 contributors so it represents broad support in the district. Her contributors include: former State Reps. Debra Danburg and Valinda Bolton and former Senator Ray Farabee; two former chairs of the Travis County Democratic Party, Chuck Herring and Chris Elliott; Judge Nancy Hohengarten; former Travis County Commissioner Karen Huber, solar activist Karen Hadden, environmentalist Jon Beall, longtime Democratic and environmental activist Shudde Fath, and Seton health care executive Greg Hartman as well as Melissa Hawthorne, who served as president of the Barton Hills neighborhood association.

Dan Buda reported raising nearly $15,000 but spending only about $2,730. He lent his campaign $5,000 and showed a war chest of a little over $12,000 as of June 30. He said he had gathered financial support from about 110 supporters. That number includes friends and family from his home state of Michigan as well as local activist Brian Rodgers, public relations consultant Doug Zabel, former Travis County Commissioner candidate Garry Brown, and legislative lobbyist Gregg Knaupe, who represents hospitals and governmental entities.

Buda indicated no concern about the fundraising. “The finance report is not indicative of what it’s going to look like in November,” he said.

Behind Buda and Kitchen in fundraising is Luis Mike Rodriguez, who says he raised $5,332 and spent about $2,243. He loaned his campaign $5,000 and indicated he had $9,665 remaining.

Dave Floyd’s report indicated he had raised a little more than $2,500 but spent only about $312. He has not loaned his campaign any money and had about $2,200 as of June 30.