The Republican candidates for Brazos County judge have stepped up spending a month before the primary election, according to campaign finance reports submitted Monday.
Three of the four candidates for the top elected position in county government spent thousands of dollars during a 20-day stretch in January. The fourth, economic consultant Brian Alg, failed to submit his paperwork by the 5 p.m. due date.
Pct. 2 County Commissioner Duane Peters was the biggest spender, reporting $12,451 in expenditures between Jan. 1 and Jan. 21. Almost $10,000 of that was spent on signs and fliers. Peters also spent about $2,000 on advertising on the Web sites of The Eagle and KBTX-TV.
Former Bryan Mayor Ernie Wentrcek spent $5,719 during the most recent reporting period. About $3,600 of that went toward television advertising, and almost all the rest was spent on signs.
Current Bryan Mayor Mark Conlee spent $1,947 on mailings and advertising.
All three candidates received contributions from community members, but also are supplementing their campaigns with loans.
Peters loaned his campaign more than $10,000 during the 20-day reporting period and has $50,000 in outstanding loans from previous campaigns. Wentrcek has $4,500 in outstanding loans and Conlee has $5,000 in loans.
Conlee received $4,775 in contributions from 16 donors who gave $50 or more, including 15 people who live in Brazos County. The owners of Messina Hof, Paul and Merrill Bonnarrigo, who wrote a check for $100, were among the donors.
Peters' campaign received $3,940 in donations. Seven local residents were among the donors, including current County Judge Randy Sims.
Four people -- including former College Station Mayor Ron Silvia -- donated a total of $1,050 to Wentrcek's campaign.
Pct. 2 County Commissioner candidate Sammy Catalina led all candidates in his race by raising $9,335 during the reporting period. He spent $11,776 during that same time. He has $6,225 in cash-on-hand for the rest of the race.
His opponent in the Republican primary, Jerry Fickey, raised $550 and spent $1,757. He has about $1,000 in cash left in his campaign coffers. The other Pct. 2 candidate, Hugh Seale, didn't turn in his report by the deadline.
Pct. 4 County Commissioner Irma Cauley raised $900 during the reporting period. The Democrat spent no money during that time and has $1,012 left to fund her campaign.
Her primary opponent, Bryan City Councilman Paul Madison, raised no money during the reporting period. He spent $1,389 and has no cash remaining in his campaign account, according to his report.
Election day is March 2. Early voting begins Feb. 16.
County officials said Monday night that the candidates who didn't submit their finance reports by the deadline will face no punishment.
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