AUSTIN—Democratic candidate Mike Collier is entering the final four weeks in his bid for comptroller against Republican state Sen. Glenn Hegar at a cash disadvantage, despite having outraised his rival in campaign contributions since July 1.
Mike Collier, Democratic candidate in comptroller race
Collier, a Houston accountant and businessman, raised nearly $444,000–propelled largely by a $300,000 donation from CarMax co-founder Austin Ligon. Hegar raked in nearly $390,000 in contributions for the same 3-month period.
But the Democrat, who’s the underdog in a GOP-dominated state, also outspent the Katy Republican nearly three-fold in the most recent quarter. That leaves Collier with about $80,000 cash on hand, a sliver of Hegar’s $1.3 million.
The general election race for the state’s chief financial officer has been one of the noisiest down ballot races—at least from one side.
Collier has campaigned heavily, touting his accounting expertise and errors made by the current comptroller’s office, including inaccurate revenue estimates and mishandled tax dollars.
“This race is becoming a referendum on corruption and incompetence. Collier is the right choice and donors of both parties know that,” said Zach Brigham, campaign manager for the race.
He’s ran web and TV ads—which have aired in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Midland markets since July—highlighting comments regarding school cuts and property taxes that Hegar made at Tea Party meetings.
Following an investigation that found the comptroller had mishandled funds for bringing the F1 races to Texas, Collier made the state’s Major Events Trust Fund a major campaign issue. He said that, if elected, he would keep tax money from going to Austin’s Circuit of the Americas track until the arrangement for the funding proves legal and also proposed moving the funds out of the comptroller’s office.
Hegar has been relatively quiet on the issue, saying that he would follow the rules regarding the fund. He also said he had voted for a senate bill to reform the fund.
His campaign has centered on the conservative ideals of small government and deregulation. Hegar has not run TV ads since the primary race when he faced Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, Debra Medina and former representative Raul Torres. His campaign said he’s kept busy touring and speaking at various events.
Sen. Glenn Hegar
“Senator Hegar is working tirelessly and traveling across our state to communicate his message of job creation and innovation to the people of Texas,” said David White, senior advisor to the campaign.
According to the most recent reports, Collier received a $300,000 contribution from Austin Ligon, co-founder of CarMax and prolific donor. Nearly half of his money spent in this quarter has gone toward advertising.
Hegar’s top donors were Tilman Fertitta, executive at Landry’s restaurants, and Hillco PAC, a lobbying firm, which each gave $25,000. The biggest chunk of his campaign expenditures went to staffing and consulting fees. Hegar started his comptroller bid with nearly $2 million cash on hand from his senate coffers, according to state campaign reports.
The two are scheduled to debate Oct. 29 on the Time Warner Cable News, which will air in some Texas markets—not including Dallas—and stream online for TWC subscribers.
The election is Nov. 4 and early voting begins Oct. 20.