Dollars to Donors in Bond Election

Eight-day-out campaign finance reports are in for groups for and against the city's $90 million mobility bond election. Pro-bond Get Austin Moving PAC reports $42,484 in contributions, $34,013 in expenditures, and more than $49,000 in the bank as of Oct. 23. Contributors include several two-wheel retailers (Alien Scooters, Mellow Johnny's, Bicycle Sport Shop, and others), plus zoning attorney Nikelle Meade, the law offices of Armbrust & Brown, and gaming guru and part-time astronaut Richard Garriott, who contributed $2,500. Bond opponents are highlighting a $1,000 contribution from former Halliburton subsidiary KBR, along with contributions from out-of-town engineering and construction consultants, though local builders outnumber those donors. Most of GAM's spending went to canvassing. From the opposition, Engineers Affirming Sustainable Trans­portation PAC reports $2,650 in contributions, $2,158 in expenditures, and $3,492 cash on hand, bolstered by a loan of $3,000, apparently from Jim Skaggs, who also contributed $2,000. All the spending has gone to signs. Sensible Transportation Solutions for Austin PAC reports $42,290 in contributions, practically all from former Texas Monthly Publisher Mike Levy, though Skaggs also gave $10,000. Newspaper ads, printing, and a mailing list comprise Levy's in-kind contributions.