Campaign Finance Reports Reveal Aggressive Media Buys by Mayor Morrison

 

Mayor Dwain Morrison, flush with campaign cash donated over the past month, has embarked upon an extremely aggressive traditional media campaign in the environment of his sagging poll numbers.

San Angelo LIVE!’s convenience sample of 520 of its readers, as well as fans of the San Angelo Connection Facebook page, had Morrison trailing upstart candidate David Nowlin 32 percent to 68 percent for Nowlin. The results of the poll, taken from April 22-27, were published on the first day of early voting. The results suggested that if the Internet voted, Morrison loses by a landslide.

Morrison outspent Nowlin almost 2-to-1 in April, including a very aggressive television ad campaign on KLST and KSAN. Fox affiliate KIDY and Suddenlink are also in the mix.

Nowlin is missing from television.

Here are Morrison's TV ads:

 

 

 

Radio is where the competition for the airtime heats up a little. Morrison has substantial media buys on Foster (home of KIXY 94.7 FM), Four R (home of KDCD 92.9 FM), TowneSquare (home of KGKL 97.5 FM), and KSJT (107.5 “La Grande”). Nowlin’s finance report reveals he purchased ads on radio, too, but not as much as Morrison. Nowlin’s radio media buys appear defensive and are not detailed as he is purchasing media through an advertising agency, Clemens & Associates.

David Nowlin's Internet video ads:

While Morrison’s campaign is purchasing gobs of airtime, the local Realtors are running ads on Internet banner networks for Morrison through TRE-PAC, their political action committee.

April 2015 Campaign Expenses by David Nowlin for Mayor, May 9, 2015 City Election
ItemCost
David Nowlin 
Clemens and Associates
Signs, push cards, San Angelo LIVE!, Christian Reporter News
$4,032.54

Clemens and Associates
Facebook infomercial
 

$717.50
Clemens and Associates
Radio advertising
$2,500.00
Facebook
Advertising
$548.51
Paypal
Fee for payment processing
$14.80
TOTAL$7,813.35

 

April 2015 Campaign Expenses by Dwain Morrison for Mayor, May 9, 2015 City Election
ItemCost
Dwain Morrison 
The Reproduction Center
Copies, campaign literature
$54.13
KIDY-TV$1,000.00
Foster Communications
Radio Ads
$904.40
TowneSquare Media
Radio Ads
$855.00
KLST-TV
TV Ads
$3,105.00
KSAN-TV
TV Ads
$1,965.00
4 R Broadcasting
Radio Ads
$500.00
SuddenLink
TV Ads
$1,499.00
Entravision$518.50
Standard-Times
Newspaper ads
$1,000.00
San Angelo LIVE!
Internet ads
$240.00
Standard-Times
Newspaper ads
$415.00
LED Billboards$235.73
KSJT Radio
Radio ads
$1,000.00
Southwest Outdoor Digital
Billboard ads
$165.00
TOTAL$14,456.76

 

Donors of over $500 for Morrison include Tony Jones, $750; Freeman Pickett, $750; Freeman Pickett III, $1,000; Gail Stefanski, $600; Kay Ellis, $1,000; and Louis Blanek, $500.

Councilman Rodney Fleming gave $386.10, which possibly is the retirement of Fleming’s campaign war chest.

For Nowlin, the San Angelo Firefighter’s Association gave $5,000; former San Angelo City Councilman John Fields, $500; and former Councilman and mayoral candidate Paul Alexander emptied the remaining cash in his campaign checking account to give $290.88.

Nowlin, who chaired the controversial zoning hearing on the frack sand depot in February, received donations from both sides of that issue. In addition to $300 from H.R. “Winkie” Wardlaw III who led the fight for those against the sand depot, Nowlin received $100 from attorney Sam Allen who represented Lee Pfluger in defense of the sand depot.

Nowlin’s total donations for April 2015 were $7.390.88. Morrison hauled in $9,286.10.

Here is an example "sponsored post" on Facebook from the Nowlin campaign in the form of a picture with the tag line, "Early voting is going on NOW. We've heard your voice -- now, let's see your vote. Vote David Nowlin for Mayor. God bless San Angelo!" In the picture is David Nowlin, his wife Kim, and daughter Lela.

David Nowlin with wife Kim and daughter Lela. (Campaign sponsored post)

The election is Saturday, May 9. Early voting continues Monday and Tuesday, May 4 and 5 at the downtown Edd B. Keyes county building.

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Comments

klyses, Sat, 05/02/2015 - 14:06

I am confused as to why everyone is referring to Mr Morrison as "Big Money"? He is a working class man just like most of us out here. Don't forget the last election - It was Mr. Morrison that was against Big Money in that election!!! It really appears as if San Angelo Live is pushing for Mr. Nowlin not so much because of what he believes in, but in all honestly because he spends allot of advertising dollars with their company...Hey, I understand, it's not personal, it's business!!!!

live, Sat, 05/02/2015 - 15:13

My first priority to the San Angelo LIVE! project is the readers, not political campaigns. I know there are many Mayor Dwain Morrison supporters in this website's audience. All of us here, including myself, have strived to report both sides, and provide information about the mayoral election that other media outlets will not publish because (I argue) of media buys.

Unlike TV or radio that received thousands off of this race, San Angelo LIVE! has invoiced about $1,100 combined, from both campaigns. If you are following the money, look at how much KLST/KSAN received from one campaign and monitor their coverage. As for me, I'll admit I love to make a sale, but sacrificing the trust of our readers for $1,100 is not a good investment.

Joe

 

Considering how vehemently the facts of TrashGate were hidden from public view, I'd say the smoke filled room will soon have an empty seat. Good! Keep it open and above board or lose public trust. And the picture of a cowboy hat wearing good old boy with his trusted Chevy truck didn't fool anybody.

Every day when I get in my car and drive from point A to point B on the roads here in San Angelo, I just hope I make it from one to the other without a wheel or fender being knocked off my car by the horrendous road conditions. Each pot hole spaced 10 inches apart for the duration of the trip reminds me what a good job of NOT doing his job MORRISON has done. Then after I get home and look at the trashcan I DON'T have sitting in front of my house that I've been paying for the past year and wondering where I'm going to pile all my extra trash that accumulates from only being picked up once a week, (if I ever get my new trashcan), it reminds me of MORRISON again. So........ If you haven't already voted, VOTE FOR NOWLIN if you're sick of this too !!!!!!

Where is the accountability for the mailings, My sister who works for the usps said they have mailed 3 separate mailings, Getting comments of junk mail from her route. These mailings were for Morrison. Those had to be paid for by someone OR someone is paying for them on his behalf. So where is the transparency on this.

I was shocked to read Morrison claimed only $54 for printing when I had at least two good size mailings delivered in my mail. And what about the cost for all of the signs around town? Give me a break! If Morrison can't even be honest about campaign expenses we're in deeper than I thought. The figures above state he spent $5K more than he raised in donations. What is he gaining from winning this election - another contract we don't know about yet? I'm ready to get rid of corrupted politics in this town. I'm voting for Nowlin.

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