Dallas County Sheriff's AssociationDallas County Sheriff's Association
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With less than a month left before the Texas primaries, former Irving Police Chief Lowell Cannaday leads the seven other candidates for Dallas County sheriff in campaign money raised.
The Republican front-runner has amassed more than $143,000 since last year, according to reports filed with the Dallas County elections office. And he said he expects to build on it in the coming days with more planned fundraisers.
"I'm pleased and humbled," he said. "It gives me the advantage of getting my message out. There's a lot of people who are rooting for some change."
One of his contributors is County Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield, who gave $1,000. He also received donations from business leaders, including well-known real-estate players Lucy Billingsley and Harlan Crow.
Democratic incumbent Lupe Valdez is close behind Mr. Cannaday with more than $111,000.
Kirk McPike, the sheriff's campaign manager, said the Valdez team deposited more than $12,600 last week that wasn't included in the most recent filing. And they have four more fundraisers in the works.
"We're raising money faster than we have at any other point in the campaign," he said.
One of Sheriff Valdez's contributors is the Lone Star Project, a Washington, D.C.-based organization associated with the Texas Democratic Trust, a political action committee that helps Democrats throughout Texas. The organization gave $3,000.
Sam Allen, the Lancaster schools police chief, was the only other candidate to come close to the two front-runners. He said he has raised more than $60,000 – much more than he did in 2004 when he lost to Sheriff Valdez in the Democratic primary.
Chief Allen said he loaned himself $10,000 and has not been shy in asking friends and supporters for money this time around.
He missed the Jan. 15 deadline for filing an earlier campaign finance report but said he filed it on Monday, calling it an oversight.
Mr. McPike said it was "incredibly disappointing" that Chief Allen failed to obey campaign finance laws.
Jim Bowles, the longtime sheriff who lost the 2004 Republican primary, did not raise any money in January. He has already spent the $625 he has raised since last year.
Mr. Bowles said he has not held any fundraisers and is running on his name recognition and his record in office.
"If the Lord wants me to win, I'll win," he said. "I'm not trying to buy the election. The people of Dallas County can see what I can do."
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