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.

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.

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