Nearly $800,000 collected in final stretch of Dallas City Council elections, finance reports show

In the remaining races to decide six Dallas City Council seats in the June 5 runoff, around $800,000 has been both collected and spent since the week before the May 1 general election, according to the latest campaign finance reports.

More than half the money raised and spent between April and May has been in Northwest Dallas’ District 13 and District 14, which covers parts of downtown, Uptown and East Dallas, according to the latest reports filed last week.

The numbers are largely driven by Leland Burk, a District 13 candidate who has received and spent the most money of anyone seeking a council seat this election cycle, and David Blewett, the District 14 incumbent who is trying to rebound from a second-place finish last month to gain a second two-year term.

Heading into the runoff, the 12 candidates seeking to represent districts 2, 4, 7, 11, 13 and 14 reported raising more than $770,000 and spending about $830,000. Incumbents fighting to hold onto their seats in three races reported collecting more than their challengers while the remaining three elections for open seats besides District 13 saw closer margins.

Some candidates’ reports reflect two donations from the same person, often on the same day. It’s unclear whether those are reporting errors.

For comparison, almost $900,000 in campaign contributions flowed in between January and March to more than 50 Dallas City Council candidates competing for 14 spots in the general election

The latest filings show Burk has raised more than $125,000 compared to nearly $74,000 given to opponent Gay Donnell Willis. But Burk, a real estate developer, has also outspent Donnell Willis, Turtle Creek Conservancy chief executive, nearly eight to one — by over $257,000 compared to about $34,000.

Both candidates are seeking the seat being vacated by Jennifer Staubach Gates, who has maxed out her term limit of eight consecutive years.

Burk, who ran against Staubach Gates in 2013, has reported raising more than $402,000 and spending over $511,000 since January to win the seat. Donnell Willis reported collecting close to $149,000 and spending more than $75,000 in the same time period.

Burk edged out Donnell Willis by about 100 votes in the May election. It was the thinnest margin ahead of any of the Dallas runoff races and saw the highest voter participation with more than 9,600 ballots cast.

In District 14, Blewett reported collecting around $161,000 in contributions with nearly $41,000 left to spend.

Paul Ridley, a retired attorney and former city Plan Commission member who finished about 1,200 votes ahead of Blewett in the general election, reported receiving close to $37,000 with about $33,000 left to spend. Blewett reported outspending Ridley in the latest campaign finance filings $185,000 to $34,000.

In the race to succeed outgoing council member Adam Medrano in District 2, the donation and spending numbers between first-time candidates Jesse Moreno and Sana Syed are closer. District 2 covers parts of downtown, North and East Dallas.

The latest reports show Syed outraised Moreno, bringing in almost $40,000 while Moreno received around $28,000.

Syed, a real estate investment firm executive and former Dallas city spokeswoman, also reported spending around double the $31,000 that Moreno, a restaurant owner and former city Park and Recreation board member, spent during the period. But Moreno reported nearly $48,000 on hand while Syed reported around $4,000.

In District 4, incumbent Carolyn King Arnold reported raking in twice the $20,000 in donations opponent Maxie Johnson received in the latest finance reports. Neither reported having any cash left to spend, but Johnson, a pastor and Dallas ISD trustee, reported spending slightly more than the sitting council member, around $18,000 compared to King Arnold’s nearly $15,000.

Both candidates are seeking to represent south Oak Cliff in southern Dallas.

South Dallas District 7 incumbent Adam Bazaldua reported receiving more donations, spending more money and having more remaining cash than challenger Kevin Felder ahead of the runoff.

Finance reports show the one-term council member raised $67,000 compared to $7,000 and close to $89,000 still in his account versus $42,000 reported by Felder, a real estate broker and former City Council member.

In North Dallas’ District 11 race, Jaynie Schultz reported raising nearly $89,000, with Barry Wernick not far behind at $81,000. But Wernick, an attorney, reported having no cash left in the latest filings ahead of the runoff while Schultz, a former city Plan Commissioner, listed $32,000. She also reported outspending Wernick during the filing period $92,000 compared to $51,000.

Both candidates are looking to succeed Lee Kleinman, who hit term limits after four consecutive terms.

The latest filings showed many repeat donors giving candidates a financial boost ahead of Saturday’s runoff.

Relatives of late Dallas developer Trammell Crow, who contributed more than $60,000 to council candidates during the previous filing period between March and April, gave around another $20,000 to various candidates: King Arnold, Bazaldua, Schultz, Burk and Blewett. All but a couple were $1,000 donations.

J. McDonald Williams, the former chairman and chief executive of Trammell Crow Co., is listed as giving $1,000 each to Moreno, Bazaldua and Ridley as well as $500 to Burk.

Doug Deason, a prominent GOP donor and Donald Trump supporter, gave $1,000 each to Syed, Wernick, Burk and Blewett.

G. Brint Ryan, tax consultant and another high-profile Republican donor, gave Burk $1,000 the week of the general election and $1,000 to Blewett about a week after.

The Political Action Committee for the Dallas Fire Fighters Association gave the maximum allowable amount of $2,500 each to Syed, King Arnold and Ridley, and $1,000 each to Bazaldua, Schultz and Burk.

The Apartment Association of Greater Dallas PAC gave $2,500 heading into the runoff to Syed, King Arnold, Schultz, Burk and Blewett. The MetroTex Association of Realtors PAC gave $2,500 each to Moreno, King Arnold, Burk and Blewett.

Outgoing council member Kleinman gave $500 to Syed’s campaign while Staubach Gates donated $500 each to King Arnold, Schultz and Blewett.

Council member Paula Blackmon, who won reelection in May to represent District 9 in the White Rock Lake area, gave $100 to Bazaldua’s campaign. And Bazaldua donated about $100 each to Schultz and Ridley.

Election Day is Saturday. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.