Elite Chic: |
April 19, 2007 |
54 More Rich Donors
Join the '$100,000 Club'
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Club’s 140 members give $52 Million—27 percent of the system total.
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Booze industry goes on a bender.
During the recent 2006 election 140 wealthy individuals donated more than $100,000 apiece to Texas state PACs and candidates. This is up 63 percent from the 86 individuals who cleared $100,000 in 2004.
With many “$100,000 Club” members spending much more than 100 grand the 140 elite donors dropped $52 million on the last election, accounting for 27 percent of the $191 million total raised by state PACs and candidates. The word on Texas’ gated streets is that you can beat the S&P 500 by investing in the state’s ingratiating politicians.
Meanwhile barbarians at the gates are trying to put a lid on the country-club set. A bill by Rep. Mike Villareal (D-San Antonio) would bar any individual from contributing an aggregate total of more than $100,000 to state candidates and PACs in a given election (HB 111).
The $100,000 Club’s burgeoning membership accounts for only part of the club’s $23 million spending increase. The almost $13 million that longtime club pacesetters Bob Perry and James Leininger spent on the 2006 election more than doubled what this dynamic duo spent in 2004. Perry and Leininger accounted for a stunning 30 percent of the spending hike by all club members in this period.
The contributions by Republicans Perry and Leininger were partially offset by $2.1 million from club newcomer Fred Baron. This recently retired trial lawyer has been trying to resuscitate the ailing Texas Democratic Party.
The accompanying table breaks down $100,000 Club members by their underlying industries and compares the 2006 industry breakdown to that of 2004. This comparison reveals the biggest industry shifts in the $100,000 Club’s membership and contributions.
While Construction moved up a notch to become the club’s top-spending industry in 2006, this increase is almost entirely the result of homebuilder Bob Perry, who contributed an additional $2.6 million in 2006.
A more interesting shift occurred in the Miscellaneous Business sector, which jumped to second place from its No. 6 ranking in 2004. Contributions from club members in this sector increased more than 300 percent as the club signed up a net increase of 16 new members from this sector in 2006.
The Special Interests of ‘$100,000 Club’ Members
| Interest Group | 2006 Rank |
2004 Rank |
Total From $100-G Club (2006 Cycle) |
No.
of Club Donors |
Percent of Club Money |
Change
In Club Money Since 2004 |
Change
In Members Since 2004 |
| Construction | 1 |
2 |
$9,075,242 |
10 |
18% |
56% |
3 |
| Miscellaneous Business | 2 |
6 |
$8,605,282 |
28 |
17% |
304% |
16 |
| Lawyers & Lobbyists | 3 |
3 |
$7,352,144 |
22 |
14% |
71% |
2 |
| Health | 4 |
7 |
$6,941,771 |
5 |
13% |
243% |
0 |
| Finance | 5 |
4 |
$6,822,523 |
19 |
13% |
157% |
8 |
| Energy/Natural Resources | 6 |
1 |
$4,129,793 |
18 |
8% |
-45% |
7 |
| Real Estate | 7 |
5 |
$3,144,290 |
13 |
6% |
47% |
4 |
| Transportation | 8 |
8 |
$2,396,359 |
9 |
5% |
202% |
4 |
| Agriculture | 9 |
10 |
$1,090,120 |
3 |
2% |
142% |
2 |
| Communications | 10 |
9 |
$818,850 |
3 |
2% |
52% |
0 |
| Insurance | 11 |
11 |
$439,134 |
3 |
1% |
80% |
1 |
| Computers & Electronics | 12 |
0 |
$603,607 |
5 |
1% |
NA |
5 |
| Other | 13 |
0 |
$298,649 |
2 |
1% |
NA |
2 |
TOTALS: |
|
|
$51,717,765 |
140 |
100% |
81% |
54 |
Seven of this sector’s 16 new recruits made fortunes as alcohol distributors. Republic Beverage (which includes Block Distributing and Magnolia Marketing) now boasts four $100,000 Club members. Rival Glazer’s Distributing has three.
These booze wholesalers served politicos triple shots in 2006 in an effort (HB 2266) to repeal rules that force bars and restaurants to buy hooch from package liquor stores. Yet those who demand free markets must beware what they ask for. Package stores retaliated by urging the legislature to allow liquor manufacturers to sell directly to package stores—thereby bypassing the wholesalers (HB 2525).
Another dynamic sector for the $100,000 Club is Health, which moved up to No. 4 from its seventh-place ranking in 2004. Although members in the Health sector increased their contributions $5 million, this was almost entirely the handiwork of Dr. James Leininger, who made a fortune selling hi-tech hospital beds. Leininger spent $4 million more in 2006 than he did in the preceding election.
The Energy & Natural Resources industry was the only sector in which contributions by club members plummeted. This industry dropped from No. 1 in 2004 to sixth place. The more than $5 million drop in spending by these members resulted from oil billionaire Tony Sanchez’s retirement from the $100,000 Club. Sanchez belonged in 2004 when he still was paying off some of the tens of millions of dollars that he had loaned himself for his failed 2002 Democratic campaign to be governor.
Some newcomers to the $100,000 Club in 2006 joined as a result of one-horse bets on Texas’ bizarre four-way gubernatorial race.1 The candidacy of independent Kinky Friedman prompted his friends John McCall ($1.2 million), Barbara Bowman ($264,025) and Jimmy Buffet ($219,700) to join the club for perhaps the first and only time.
Chris Bell’s Democratic candidacy brought newcomer Ricardo Weitz ($555,956) into the fold and prompted veteran John O’Quinn ($1.1 million) to almost quadruple what he spent in 2004.
Similarly, independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn had much to do with increased expenditures by Ryan & Co. partners in the $100,000 Club. Ryan & Co.—which dunned Strayhorn for corporate tax breaks when she was comptroller—went from three to four club members in 2006. Meanwhile, chief George Ryan more than quadrupled his spending in 2006 to $1.4 million, with most of it benefiting Strayhorn.
Texas’ 2006 Election Cycle ‘$100,000 Club’
Amount In Cycle |
Contributor | City | Company/Occupation | Interest Group |
$7,167,064 |
*Bob & Doylene Perry | Houston | Perry Homes | Construction |
$5,551,966 |
*James & Cecilia Leininger | San Antonio | Kinetic Concepts Inc. | Health |
$2,100,821 |
Fred & Lisa Baron | Dallas | Baron & Budd, PC | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$1,390,354 |
*George & Amanda Ryan | Dallas | Ryan & Co. PC | Finance |
$1,205,921 |
*Charles C. Butt | San Antonio | HEB Grocery Co. | Miscellaneous Business |
$1,201,545 |
John Herschel McCall | Spicewood | Armstrong McCall Beauty Supply | Miscellaneous Business |
$1,200,348 |
*T. Boone Pickens Jr. | Dallas | BP Capital | Finance |
$1,129,400 |
*Harold Simmons | Dallas | Contran Corp. | Finance |
$1,116,556 |
*John M. O'Quinn | Houston | O'Quinn Laminack & Pirtle | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$766,300 |
*David & Martha Alameel | Dallas | Jefferson Dental Clinics PC | Health |
$620,750 |
*Robert C. McNair Jr. | Houston | Houston Texans, CoGen | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$555,956 |
Ricardo Weitz | Houston | Auto Dealer | Transportation |
$554,717 |
*Richard W. Weekley | Houston | Weekley Properties | Real Estate |
$548,509 |
*John L. & Barbara Nau III | Houston | Silver Eagle Distributors L.P. | Miscellaneous Business |
$537,175 |
*Thomas Dan Friedkin | Houston | Friedkin Companies Inc. | Transportation |
$531,114 |
*Lonnie A. 'Bo' Pilgrim | Pittsburg | Pilgrim's Pride Poultry | Agriculture |
$525,889 |
*Walter Umphrey | Beaumont | Provost & Umphrey Law Firm LLP | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$503,600 |
*Michael Stevens | Houston | Michael Stevens Interests Inc. | Real Estate |
$496,385 |
*John Eddie Williams Jr. | Houston | Williams Bailey Law Firm, LLP | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$469,934 |
*Harlan & Katherine Crow | Dallas | Crow Holdings | Real Estate |
$460,100 |
*Geoffrey Raynor | Fort Worth | Q Funding, LP | Finance |
$458,262 |
*Louis & Julie Beecherl | Dallas | Beecherl Co’s | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$419,657 |
*Russell Kelley | Austin | Public Strategies LLC | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$415,750 |
*Peter & Edith O'Donnell | Dallas | O'Donnell Foundation | Finance |
$408,875 |
Bennett Joe Glazer | Dallas | Glazer's Wholesale Drug Co. Inc. | Miscellaneous Business |
$401,000 |
*Alice L. Walton | Mineral Wells | Wal-Mart | Miscellaneous Business |
$400,000 |
*Stevan Hammond | Dallas | Marketing Investors Corporation | Communications |
$397,000 |
*James D. Pitcock Jr. | Houston | Williams Brothers Construction | Construction |
$393,780 |
*Peter & Julianna Holt | Blanco | Holt Companies | Construction |
$389,975 |
*Alan W. Dreeben | Schertz | Block Dist./Republic Beverage Co. | Miscellaneous Business |
$365,000 |
Alan Franco | New Orleans | Magnolia Marketing Co. | Miscellaneous Business |
$365,000 |
Jeff Goldring | Houston | Republic Beverage Co. | Miscellaneous Business |
$364,375 |
Edward Block | Schertz | Block Distributing | Agriculture |
$341,000 |
W. Marvin & Barbara Rush | San Antonio | Rush Enterprise Inc. | Transportation |
$332,000 |
*Robert & Terry Rowling | Irving | TRT Holdings, Inc. | Miscellaneous Business |
$326,000 |
*Barkley J. Stuart | Dallas | Glazer's Wholesale Drug Co. Inc. | Miscellaneous Business |
$319,125 |
Gordon T. Graves | Austin | Graves Management, Inc. | Miscellaneous Business |
$303,000 |
*Gerald Ridgely Jr. | Dallas | Ryan & Co. P. C. | Finance |
$302,500 |
*Kenny & Lisa Troutt | Dallas | Mt. Vernon Investments LLC | Communications |
$301,370 |
Russell W. Budd | Dallas | Baron & Budd PC | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$287,625 |
Harold W. Nix | Daingerfield | Nix Patterson & Roach L.L.P. | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$265,463 |
Greg LaMantia | McAllen | L & F Distributors | Miscellaneous Business |
$265,141 |
Paul L. Foster | El Paso | Western Refining Co. | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$264,025 |
Barbara Bowman | San Antonio | Oil Heiress | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$248,348 |
*Dan L. Duncan | Houston | Enterprise Products Partners | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$239,505 |
*Dian Owen Graves Stai | Abilene | Owen Healthcare Inc. | Health |
$239,191 |
Barry G. Andrews | Dallas | Andrews Distributing Co. of North TX | Miscellaneous Business |
$233,894 |
*James D. Dannenbaum | Houston | Dannenbaum Engineering | Construction |
$227,000 |
*Ralph & Joy Ellis Jr. | Irving | Belmont Oil And Gas Corp. | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$226,993 |
Robert A. Mosbacher Jr. | Houston | Mosbacher Energy Company | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$223,000 |
Maconda O'Connor | Houston | Doctor | Health |
$219,700 |
Jimmy Buffet | Hollywood | Singer | Miscellaneous Business |
$214,000 |
*Charles E. Hurwitz | Houston | MAXXAM Inc. | Finance |
$208,373 |
*Charles W. & Judy Tate | Sugar land | Capital Royalty LLC | Finance |
$206,638 |
*H. Ross Perot Jr. | Plano | Hillwood Development Group L.P. | Real Estate |
$200,000 |
Dawn Arnall | Los Angeles | Ameriquest Mortgage | Finance |
$197,500 |
Joseph F. Phillips | Mission | Convenience stores | Miscellaneous Business |
$197,000 |
*Mr. & Mrs. Erle A. Nye | Dallas | TXU Energy Corp. | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$196,065 |
*W. Mark & Becky Lanier | Houston | Lanier Law Firm P.C. | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$195,000 |
Terralynn Swift | Houston | Swift Energy Company | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$194,631 |
Jerry & Glenda Kane | Corpus Christi | Sam Kane Beef Processors Inc. | Agriculture |
$194,100 |
*Ray L. Hunt | Dallas | Hunt Consolidated, Inc. | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$193,500 |
*Mr/Mrs William A. McMinn | Houston | Sterling Group | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$193,329 |
Patrick J. Moran | Houston | Moran Resources | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$192,961 |
Mr/Mrs Steve Sterquell II | Amarillo | American Housing Foundation | Real Estate |
$190,100 |
Richard & Ginni Mithoff | Houston | Mithoff & Jacks LLP | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$189,500 |
Richard Thompson | Lucas | Ryan & Co. P. C. | Finance |
$189,014 |
David H. Dewhurst | Austin | State Of Texas | Other |
$187,347 |
*Ned S. Holmes | Houston | Parkway Investments/Texas Inc. | Real Estate |
$186,595 |
*Randall G. Goss | Dallas | U.S. RISK | Insurance |
$186,000 |
*Mr/Mrs Albert Huddleston | Dallas | Hyperion Resources Inc. | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$184,500 |
Richard Scott | Houston | Trans-Global Solutions (TGS), Inc | Transportation |
$180,000 |
Christine Mattsson | Austin | Tippingpoint Technologies | Computers & Electronics |
$179,359 |
*John Victor Lattimore Jr. | Mc Kinney | Lattimore Materials | Construction |
$176,234 |
*Michael B. Boylan | Houston | Houston Property Management Corp. | Real Estate |
$174,865 |
*James L. Huffines | Dallas | Huffines Auto Dealerships | Transportation |
$174,773 |
*HB & Mollie Zachry Jr. | San Antonio | Zachry Construction Corp. | Construction |
$170,750 |
*B.J. 'Red' McCombs | San Antonio | Red McCombs Automotive Group | Transportation |
$169,250 |
*Robert D.McLane Jr. | Temple | Mclane Company Inc. | Miscellaneous Business |
$165,704 |
*Charles B. Lawrence | Houston | Kirby Corporation | Transportation |
$164,980 |
*J. Robert & Sherry Brown | El Paso | Desert Eagle Distributing Co. | Miscellaneous Business |
$163,500 |
John Speer | Houston | Royce Homes | Construction |
$162,500 |
Stephen Jones | Dallas | Dallas Cowboys Football Club | Miscellaneous Business |
$161,500 |
Trammell S. Crow Jr. | Dallas | Crow Holdings | Real Estate |
$161,000 |
*William & Wendy Boothe | Dallas | Booth Eye Care Center | Health |
$160,323 |
*Woody L. & Gayle Hunt | El Paso | Hunt Corp. | Real Estate |
$159,567 |
*George C. Hixon | San Antonio | Hixon Properties | Real Estate |
$158,000 |
Lee Fikes | Dallas | Bonanza Oil Inc. | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$156,880 |
Robert D. Gillikin | Dallas | Cummins Southern Plains Inc. | Miscellaneous Business |
$156,000 |
Julia Jones Matthews | Abilene | Dodge Jones Foundation | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$155,503 |
*Kenneth P. Banks | Schulenburg | International Muffler Co. | Transportation |
$154,997 |
Michael T. Gallagher | Houston | Gallagher Law Firm | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$152,500 |
*Joseph D. Jamail | Houston | Jamail & Kolius | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$152,000 |
*H. Gary & Diane Heavin | Gatesville | Curves International, Inc. | Miscellaneous Business |
$151,000 |
*James Trester | Plano | Ryan & Co. P. C. | Finance |
$150,000 |
Frank & Molly Homer | Paris | Sonic franchisee | Miscellaneous Business |
$148,000 |
R. L. Glazer | Dallas | Glazer Dist. | Miscellaneous Business |
$147,822 |
*Kent R. Hance | Austin | Hance Scarborough Wright Woodward... | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$146,750 |
Garrett & Cecilia Boone | Dallas | Container Store | Miscellaneous Business |
$144,125 |
*Walter & Suzette Negley | Houston | WWN Corp./TX Screw Products, Inc. | Miscellaneous Business |
$139,507 |
Carl F. Raba Jr. | San Antonio | Raba-Kistner Consultants Inc. | Construction |
$139,153 |
Clayton Williams Jr. | Midland | Clayton Williams Energy Inc. | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$136,751 |
Ben & Melanie Barnes | Austin | EntreCorp | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$136,163 |
Joe R. & Teresa Long | Austin | First State Bank Central Texas | Finance |
$136,125 |
Mr/Mrs James Perkins Jr. | Rusk | Citizens First Bank | Finance |
$133,354 |
Larry Anders | Dallas | Summit Alliance Companies | Insurance |
$130,350 |
Mark Friend Shurley | Fredericksburg | Attorney | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$130,000 |
Johnny Baker | Houston | Baker Managers LLC | Real Estate |
$125,171 |
John Needham | Austin | Riverside Resources Property Mgmt. | Real Estate |
$125,040 |
Thomas W. Pirtle | Houston | O'Quinn Laminack & Pirtle | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$124,955 |
R. Steven & Donna Hicks | Austin | Capstar Partners LLC | Finance |
$122,805 |
*Ben & Kathy Streusand | Woodlands | Home Loan Corporation | Finance |
$122,690 |
Stanley P. Jobe | El Paso | Jobe Concrete Products Inc. | Construction |
$122,578 |
Mr/Mrs Thomas Black Jr. | Lewisville | Black Mann & Graham LLP | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$120,500 |
Meredith J. Long | Houston | Meredith Long & Co. | Miscellaneous Business |
$119,500 |
*Mauricio R. Celis | Corpus Christi | Attorney | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$119,200 |
Stanley K. Harper | Arlington | Lenders & Members Service Group | Finance |
$119,185 |
Charles Wood Jr. | Dallas | Dallas Fire Insurance Co. | Insurance |
$117,500 |
Morton L. Topfer | Austin | Castletop Capital Management | Computers & Electronics |
$116,350 |
Lowry & Peggy Mays | San Antonio | Clear Channel Entertainment | Communications |
$115,300 |
*Vance & 'Tincy' Miller | Dallas | Henry S. Miller Companies | Real Estate |
$114,160 |
*Wayne Reaud | Beaumont | Reaud Morgan & Quinn L.L.P. | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$113,000 |
Gary R. Petersen | Houston | Encap Investments LP | Finance |
$110,907 |
Ramsay Gillman | Houston | Gillman Companies | Transportation |
$109,635 |
Tom Craddick | Midland | State Of Texas | Other |
$108,519 |
George Fleming | Houston | Fleming & Associates LLP | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$105,500 |
Richard N. Laminack | Houston | O'Quinn Laminack & Pirtle | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$104,000 |
Michael S. & Susan Dell | Austin | Dell Inc | Computers & Electronics |
$103,750 |
Mr/Mrs Truman Arnold | Texarkana | Truman Arnold Company | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$103,500 |
John McStay | Dallas | McStay Investment Council | Finance |
$103,444 |
Bill Orr | Austin | Orr Holdings Ltd | Energy/Nat’l Resources |
$103,300 |
Marc & Wendy Stanley | Dallas | Stanley Mandel & Iola LLP | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
$103,000 |
Frank Mcguyer | Houston | Mcguyer Homebuilders | Construction |
$101,975 |
*Bobby D. & Leona Cox | Ft. Worth | Bobby Cox Companies Inc. | Miscellaneous Business |
$101,600 |
David & Jennifer Spencer | San Antonio | On Board Software Inc. | Computers & Electronics |
$101,000 |
Moshe Azoulay | Dallas | American Garment Finishers Corp. | Miscellaneous Business |
$100,517 |
Berkley V.Dawson | San Antonio | Budweiser Dist. Co. | Miscellaneous Business |
$100,507 |
Richard & Jill Salwen | Austin | Dell Inc | Computers & Electronics |
$100,450 |
Alan K. & Patti Harper | Arlington | Lenders & Members Service Group | Finance |
$51,512,934 |
TOTAL |
Download "Texas' 2006 Election Cycle '$100,000 Club' " table in pdf.
1 See Keeping Texas Weird 2006, Texans for Public Justice, September 25, 2006 and the report update, 30 Days Before the Election, published October 11, 2006.
