New Names Crop Up in SD-24 Race

Several names have popped up this month to replace retiring state Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay. Already in the race to succeed Fraser was Dawn Buckingham, an ophthalmologist, whose campaign finance report showed she loaned herself $500,000 for the race and has raised about $48,000.

But joining her in the race this month was Reed Williams, who served on the San Antonio City Council and worked in the oil industry before retiring in Burnet County to grow grapes with his wife.
 
A new name that popped up recently is CJ Grisham, the founder of Open Carry Texas, who has made a Facebook campaign page, filed a treasurer’s announcement in the race and has a temporary website asking for donations.

But Grisham noted in a Facebook post on Monday that his moves are a way of seeing how much support he’d have and helping him decide on whether he’ll formally announce.

“This is the first step towards a formal candidacy, but makes my intent clear and legally allows me to start raising money,” Grisham wrote on Facebook. “I have not made a ‘formal’ announcement that I am a candidate yet. The purpose of this page is to stir things up, get people talking and gauge support, and hopefully get attendance when I’m ready to announce sometime next month.”
 
Also in the race is Jon Cobb, whose website asking for donations says “he looks forward to meeting the people of Senate District 24 as he travels from Abilene to Kerrville and everywhere in between.” 

“As an entrepreneur and small business owner who helps build homes throughoutthe greater Austin area, Jon believes in the unflagging optimism and fiercely independent nature of our state and our people,” the website says.
 
And yet another candidate is retired radiologist Brent Mayes of Fredericksburg, whose Facebook candidate page notes he’s “a conservative running for Senate District 24.”

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And in some 2016 news, GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum released on Tuesday the names of the members of his national finance committee. On that list were more than a few Dallas-area donors.
 
Here they are:

Jeff and Donna Blackard of McKinney
Tait Cruse of Dallas
Richard Ellis of Dallas
Ed Grand Lienard of Heath
Lee Roy Mitchell of Dallas
Mehrdad Mohyedi of Carrollton
Paul and Judy Pogue of McKinney
Keresa and JR Richardson of McKinney
Steve Solomon of Dallas
Steve and Amye Wilson of Addison
 
Santorum has kept his Texas ties active since his previous presidential campaign in 2012. He is CEO of a Christian film company based in Dallas, and a political nonprofit he founded has been active in last year’s statewide elections.