[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Local News
Archives
| Arts & Entertainment
| Audio/Video
| Business
| Classifieds
| Columns
| Food
| Forums
| Health & Fitness
| News
| Obits
| Opinions
| People
| Politics
| Science/Technology
| Search
| Sports
| Subscribe
| Travel
| Weather
Saturday, March 31, 2001
Pro-Packery gifts near $270,000
Supporters carrying signs turn in report at City Hall
By Samuel Segrist
Caller-Times
Packery Channel proponents have won big so far in the quest for cash, raising more than $269,388.48 by March 29, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday.
Opponents of the project said they were hopeful that the returns at the ballot box next weekend wouldn't follow the money.
Corpus Christi Yes reported almost $190,000 in contributions during the last month. The group raised $79,500 in the previous reporting period.
The group turned in the report with fanfare. A group of about 40 people, carrying signs with the Corpus Christi Yes logo, turned up at City Hall for the announcement.
"This shows a broad base of support throughout the community," said Gail Hoffman, co-chairwoman of Corpus Christi Yes.
The largest contributor to Corpus Christi Yes was Manti Operating Co., which was listed for making two $12,500 contributions to the campaign. Officials at the company could not be reached Friday evening.
The committee listed all of its donors, including people who gave less than $50. More than 200 separate donations were listed in the report.
The group also had its share of large-scale contributors - nine organizations donated $10,000 or more.
Members of Corpus Christi Yes used the event to argue their side of the issue.
"We want to see Corpus Christi go with a good project that won't raise people's taxes," said Mark Saleff, a member of the pro-Packery group.
Packery No, a committee opposed to the dredging project, reported $6,410 in contributions.
"I'm very gratified by what we got because we didn't really do fund raising," said Hal Suter, treasurer for Packery No. "They're people who really just liked what we were doing and made donations."
Suter said he was not surprised at the difference in fund raising. He said opponents of Packery Channel had less cash when the issue was defeated in a 1999 county bond election.
The Organization for the Preservation of an Unblemished Shoreline, a local environmental group, made two donations worth $3,400 to Packery No.
"Our organization has been opposed to Packery Channel for a long, long time," said Frank Hankins, OPUS secretary. The group believes the channel will be an economic failure.
San Antonio resident Donald Pedigo contributed $700 to Packery No. Pedigo, who runs an ice company, said he was raised in Corpus Christi and is concerned about the environment around the channel.
On April 7, voters will decide if the special taxing district created to pay for the city's $10.5 million share of the proposed $30 million dredging project can exist.
Staff writer Samuel Segrist can be reached at 886-3764 or by e-mail at segrists@caller.com
| Talk
about this story | Next Story
| Home |
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
© 2001,
a Scripps Howard newspaper. All rights reserved.
|
 |
 |
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
