By Jolie Jackson & Jim Foreman
Recent campaign finance reports have highlighted potential outside influence on the upcoming Friendswood ISD School Board election, with significant contributions coming from non-residents.
John Scott, who is challenging incumbent Tony Hopkins for Position 4, has raised nearly $50,000—more than all other candidates combined. A substantial portion of Scott’s funds came from State Senator Mayes Middleton and school-privatization advocate Montgomery Bennett. Middleton, whose primary residence is in Galveston, contributed $22,500 in cash and $4,287.50 in-kind. Bennett, based in Dallas, donated $15,000.
Candidate Contributions Breakdown:
John Scott: Raised a total of $48,969.66 as of October 28, including $3,769.66 from personal funds. Top contributions include $22,500 from Middleton and $15,000 from Bennett, along with an in-kind mailer donation valued at $4,287.50 from Middleton. Scott spent an additional $43,256 on mailers and text message marketing through Rightmail, LLC, a campaign consulting company based in Clear Lake.
Bradley Clapp: Collected $3,119.28, fully self-funded. Clapp also paid for text message marketing through Rightmail, LLC.
Debbie Spurr: Raised $1,300, with notable contributions from local donors David L. Davis ($500) and John Scott ($500).
Donald “Doc” Stran: Secured $14,496.64, entirely self-funded. Stran also paid for mailers and text message marketing through Rightmail, LLC.
Tony Hopkins: Accumulated $8,582.01, with significant support from local donors Erin Teichman, Douglass Walt, and Stephanie Moss, each contributing $1,000.
Rebecca Hillenberg: Received $9,150, primarily self-funded with $8,500 from her own resources and $200 in cash donations.
Nicole “Niki” Rhodes: Raised $2,430, with $75 in self-funding. Rhodes spent an additional $2,387.64 out of pocket on campaign expenses. Key contributors to her campaign include Rhodes’ sister Buffy Martines ($1,000) and the Banfield family ($500).
Laura Seifert: Collected $5,165, with primary donations from outside contributors Buffy Martines and Sherrill Garland, each giving $1,000.
These financial disclosures reveal an unprecedented influx of non-local funds in the Friendswood ISD School Board race, raising questions about external influence on local education policy.
Article Updated 10/30/24 at 12:53pm
