Race for Mayor: Candidates Ignore TV, Radio, Standard-Times So Far

Mayoral candidate David Nowlin outspent incumbent Mayor Dwain Morrison $8,333.00 to $4,550.21 in the first reporting period in the campaign for the May 9 city elections. Morrison banked earlier contributions that the newcomer Nowlin didn’t have. That’s what the filing reports from Apr. 9 reveal for the two candidates as they enter the final stretch before early voting begins.

Neither candidate is purchasing traditional media like radio or TV this year; only Morrison is buying print, but in niche publications, not the newspaper of record. Other than signs and ad agency expenses, Nowlin’s ad spend is exclusively Internet advertising on Facebook and San Angelo LIVE! Morrison is spending his money making copies and ordering campaign signs. He has also has made print media buys in American Classifieds and Conexión Hispania.

From Jan. 9 through Apr. 9, Nowlin raised more money than Morrison, $6,020 to $1,250.

Nowlin depleted all of his campaign war chest, but Morrison, who was pledged $5,000 from San Angelo Realtor’s TRE-PAC in January (donation not listed; may have been reported in the previous quarter), still has $3.415.42 left to spend.

Morrison has fewer donors than Nowlin, but four of the five donors gave more than $100. They include a $1,066.53 in-kind donation from Best Texas Tees and Signs; $700 from Gary Cortese; $250 from fellow councilman Marty Self, and $200 from Steve Eustis.

Nowlin has 23 donors listed on his report, eight of whom are for $100 or less. His biggest donors include: Steve Sanders, $1,000; Chris Cornell, $500; Robert Housley, $500; Richard Albert, $500; and Ben Stribling, $500.