Gothia campaign tops $25,000 in fundraising

Dave Rogers / For The Record

Fundraising for John Gothia’s bid to keep his seat as Orange County Judge in a race against a Vidor blueberry farmer has topped $25,000.

That’s from a required campaign finance report 30 days out from the March 3 Republican Party primary race.

It shows that Gothia added $9,500 in political contributions in the period from Jan. 16 to Feb. 3. Add that to the $14,700 Gothia listed in the Jan. 15 report for a total of $25,200, with $5,000 of that coming from a personal loan.

Most recent large campaign donors include Milton Taylor of Bridge City; Harry and Kristen Murdock of Orange; David Jones of Orange; David Sandlin of Orange; and J.W. Mauriceville. Each donated $1,000.

Gothia showed $8,387 in expenses during the 18-day period, with the biggest checks written to OCARC ($2,587) and Robert’s Meat Market ($2,350).

Gothia’s opponent, Ernest Bayard, filed his first campaign report Tuesday, listing zero dollars in contributions, and about $4,000 in political expenses paid from personal funds or by credit card.

In one of the other county-wide election races, for Sheriff, candidate Robert Strause listed $3,948 in political contributions and $5,997 in expenditures for the period of Jan. 15 through Feb. 3.

That gives his campaign a total of $18,721 in contributions so far.

His opponent, Precinct 4 Constable Jimmy Lane Mooney, did not file a Feb. 3 report as of mid-afternoon Tuesday. He had listed $6,662 in contributions through Dec. 31, 2019.

In the campaign for 163^rd District Court Judge, Michael Catt reported $8,319 raised between Jan. 1 and Jan. 23, 2020. He earlier reported $16,950 in contributions, for a total, through Jan. 23, of $25,089.

He reported $2,558 in political expenditures for a total of $11,189, and cash remaining on hand in the amount of $18,406.

The Feb. 3 report of his opponent, Rex Peveto, was not available on the Texas Ethics Commission website Tuesday night. Previously, Peveto reported $6,250 in 2019 contributions.

Precinct 3 is home to the two other contested races on the March 3 GOP ballot – for Commissioner, and Constable.

Sitting Commissioner Kirk Roccaforte added $2,850 in contributions from Jan. 1 through Jan. 23, for a total of $6,100; January expenses of $1,814 for a total of $7,941 against a personal loan of $4,000.

Challenger Carl LeBlanc, who said he is self-funding his run, registered $532 in expenses paid by credit card, putting his expenses at $1,143 for the campaign against one $50 donation.

For Precinct 3 constable, Brad Frye filed for $950 in contributions in January and $280 in expenses, for a total raised of $3,250 and spent of $3,633.

Opponent Sam Carpenter marked his Jan. 15 report as final, showing $1,943 in expense and no contributions.