Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Commissioner hopefuls' spending strategies vary

Marketplace \| Services \| Contact Us \| Community \| Arts & Entertainment \| Local Guides

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Thursday, October 26, 2000

Commissioner hopefuls' spending strategies vary
Both have about $18,000; Schwing is focusing on direct mail while Jones is using billboards
By Guy H. Lawrence
Caller-Times

Jones

Schwing

The candidates for Nueces County commissioner Precinct 1 have both raised nearly $18,000 for their campaigns, but they have different strategies for spending that money.
   Democratic incumbent Frank Schwing, running for his third term, has raised about $17,685, while Republican challenger Bob Jones is not far behind with $17,532, according to recent campaign reports.
   Both candidates expect to spend close to $30,000 before the race is decided on Nov. 7.
   Jones has focused much of his advertising on billboards and bus benches. Schwing plans to focus on direct mail, he said.
   As a two-term commissioner, Schwing said voters should be familiar with his name and record.
   "At the very minimum I need to match Jones in terms of dollar amount," Schwing said.
   "I don't necessarily need to do a lot of very public media."
   Jones said he has been working to increase his name recognition for the last four months with billboards and bus benches, including a bench on Lipan Street, right in front of the County Courthouse.
   "I have them strategically placed," he said.
   Jones said he is buying television and radio time, and targeting the precinct with campaign workers who distribute fliers door to door.
   Jones said he likes his signs to be posted in people's yards, rather than obscure areas.
   "It is not about outspending, it is about spending wisely," Jones said.
   Just as the candidates' attention-grabbing tactics vary, so do the reasons contributors have for supporting each candidate.
   Clifford L. Zarsky, a lawyer and homebuilder, said he supports Jones because he has had more contact with the candidate and agrees with his stance on reducing government costs. Zarsky contributed $200 to the Jones campaign in August.
   "In any race you have to make a selection," Zarsky said.
   "I have had more of a direct visitation with Mr. Jones. I don't believe we would go wrong with either man in the office."
   Ralph Durden, who owns a construction business, said he contributed $500 to the Schwing campaign because he approves of Schwing's performance.
   Durden said there wasn't any specific project or philosophy of Schwing's that won him over.
   "I have known him for a number of years and he has done an outstanding job," Durden said. "It's just his public service, and the overall job as a county commissioner."
   Both candidates are unsure about how Gov. George W. Bush's run for the presidency will affect their race.
   Schwing predicts some Republican candidates will benefit.
   "With George Bush being our governor and running for president, a lot of citizens and Texans will start off at the top of the ticket voting for Republican," Schwing said. "How far that goes down, I don't know. There are a lot of candidates across the state hoping to ride those coattails."
   Jones isn't counting on any help.
   "I am running as though individuals may cross over for Bush, but not necessarily cross over for anyone else on the ticket," Jones said.
   Jones noted the Bush's name at the top of the ballot two years ago when he ran for governor wasn't enough to push local Republicans over the top.
   In 1998, three Republicans lost by slim margins as Bush won re-election.
   District Judge candidate Robert Pate received 49 percent of the vote, district judge candidate Tom Greenwell got 49 percent and county judge candidate John Longoria got 48 percent.



Staff writer Guy H. Lawrence can be reached at 886-3792 or by e-mail _at lawrenceg@caller.com.

| Talk about this story | Next Story | Home |

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

[ Printer-friendly version ]
[ Subscribe to newspaper ]

SEND THIS PAGE TO A FRIEND

[an error occurred while processing this directive]