Published: January 23, 2008 10:26 am      

Haverkamp out distances others in fund raising

Campaign expense reports were due Jan. 15, and it appears the sitting District Judge out-raised her opponent and all other local candidates in the race for the Cooke County Republican nomination.

Janelle Haverkamp, the incumbent for the 235th District Court bench, reported $14,700 in contributions with $9,665.42 in expenditures and $5,034.58 in funds remaining.

Her campaign has consisted of a heavy marketing effort, including bumper stickers, yard signs, post signs and three billboards on local highways.

“Just right now we’re trying to get our signs up and getting them to stay up,” she said, with a laugh.

Haverkamp said she and several volunteers and family members went door-to-door campaigning. She said two billboards have been paid for, including one at the intersection of U.S. 77 and Grand Avenue. Her campaign has a Web site at www.keepjudgehaverkamp.com.

“I’m appreciative and humbled by all the support I’ve received so far,” Haverkamp said. “It’s certainly expensive to run a campaign.

Opponent Martin Peterson, according to reports, had $550 in contributions and spent $2,614.84 of mostly his own money.

Peterson’s campaign has consisted of walking neighborhoods and placing yard signs, and a billboard. He has a campaign Web site at www.martinpetersonforcookecounty.com.

Peterson, who moved to Cooke County in 2005, said his campaign style is “basically to just try to meet as many as I can.”

“I’ve really enjoyed my visits out in the neighborhoods,” Peterson said, “and I hope to meet more people in the next few weeks.”

On finances, he said he is not sure that if in the long-run Haverkamp will outspend him.

“I, of course, solicit and welcome contributions. But I have my own funds that will benefit the community,” he said.

Peterson noted most of Haverkamp’s campaign contributions were from local attorneys.

The three-way race for 235th District Attorney has also seen some heavy spending as well.

Chris Fostel, one of two people challenging incumbent Cindy Stormer on the Republican ballot, reported total contributions of $1,750, expenditures at $2,899 and a total remaining of $134.

Fostel said this is his first time to run for a public elected office, and his first fund-raising dinner was held in Fort Worth at Esperanza’s Bakery.

“It went really well, and I was really pleased with the turnout and the great,” Fostel said. “... We had people there from Parker to all the way east of Dallas, and people from Cooke all the way south to Tarrant. Cooke County’s the first line of defense in the whole state of Texas on I-35. And that’s why Cooke County is important to everybody and why we have to keep it safe.”

Fostel said he is planning Cooke and Denton county fund raisers soon.

He said he’s running a “fairly traditional, door-to-door” campaign. His Web site, www.fostelforda.com, has generated thousands of hits so far, he noted.

Fostel also paid for a billboard at the corner of Fair Avenue and U.S. Highway 82.

He said the interaction between he and his opponents has been peaceful.

“So far its been kept real clean, as far as I can tell,” he noted.

Janice Warder, also seeking the Republican nomination for District Attorney, sent out campaign mailers to likely voters last week. The flyer read “Tough as nails,” and hailed her experiences as a judge in Dallas County. She said her campaign mailed the flyers to a list of likely voters from the GOP’s “Voter Vault” Web site.

Warder’s reported contributions were $5,140, expenditures $2,820.40 with a total remaining of $2,372.60. A self-loan of $2,000 was also reported.

Her expense report also noted a billboard.

“I’m really encouraged by the excitement and the enthusiasm people are showing,” Warder said in an interview, shortly before speaking on KGAF-AM, 1580, this morning.

Stormer reported her contributions were $3,800, expenditures were $8,540.27, with a total remaining of $3,025.

“I really don’t have much time to do much of any campaigning given the demands of the job,” Stormer said, noting her activities on the campaign trail.

Stormer has appeared at several public events and was among the first candidates to place signs in yards and in front of businesses. She has a billboard on Interstate Highway 35.

Though interaction has been civil between the candidates, Stormer said her personal mailbox at her Marysville-area ranch was destroyed twice, and she suspects the destruction was related to her campaign.

“Vandalism and theft of campaign signs is an unfortunate occurrence during the campaign season, but destruction of a candidate’s personal property is rare,” she said in a written statement. “We saw a lot of vandalism when I ran in 1996.”

Someone closely aligned with a former political opponent was seen near the mailbox just before it was destroyed the first time, Stormer said, not naming anyone. The person shouted obscenities, she said.

“It is probably no mere coincidence that, shortly after the suspect was questioned about the vandalism by law enforcement authorities, Stormer’s new box was destroyed.”

Destruction of a mailbox is a violation of federal law carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment. Information on the vandalism may be given to Postal Inspector Shawn Smith 1(817)505-3412.

Other opposed candidate donations and spending reports are as follows:

Wayne Dodson, challenger for Precinct 1 Commissioner: Spent $1,112.78.

Gary Hollowell, incumbent Precinct 1 Commissioner: $300 in contributions and $30 in expenditures.

Ken Fogus, challenger for Cooke County Sheriff: $3,315 in contributions and has spent $2,478.

Mike Compton, incumbent candidate for Sheriff: $3,850 in contributions and $4,462.04 in expenditures (including his “Justice is Coming” T-shirts).

Frieda Fiske, challenger for Cooke County Attorney: No totals were reported on the front page of her report, but she received $1,225 from an anonymous contributor and spent $750 on her self, with a billboard on I-35 paid for and listed in expenditures.

Tanya Davis, incumbent County Attorney: $750 in expenditures (filing fee).

Richard “Dick” Roth, candidate for Precinct 4 Constable: $3,100 in contributions and $476 in expenditures.

On the Democratic Party ballot, Ben Thurman, who will challenge the Republican nominee for Sheriff in the November general election, reported $350 in contributions and has spent $1,510. Royce Martin, who will challenge Roth in the general election for Precinct 4 Constable, reported spending $375 on a filing fee.

Nancy Manning, an independent candidate for District Attorney, said she preferred to wait until after the primary to determine whether she wants to campaign. No report was at the Cooke County Clerk’s office when checked.

Reporter Andy Hogue may be contacted at andyhoguegdr@ntin.net