McLennan Dems criticize mailer for candidate

A recent full-color campaign mailer purportedly sponsored by Gary Martin of Marble Falls encouraged voters to write in Gibson, who is facing off against Democratic candidate Jeremy Davis and Republican candidate Donis “DL” Wilson. Gibson did not respond to inquiries this week, and Davis and Wilson said they had no knowledge of the sender.

Martin, a longtime gas company owner and GOP donor linked to the address in the mailer, did not respond to messages left at his office this week. As of Friday evening, the true source of the email program could not be determined.

McLennan County Democratic Party Chairman Mark Hayes, who criticized Gibson’s candidacy, said the mailer campaign is a “divide and conquer” strategy aimed at securing all five Commissioners Court seats for Republicans.

“It is clear that Republicans are now campaigning for Travis in hopes that it will divide Democrats and get their candidate elected,” Hayes said in an email to the Tribune-Herald on Wednesday. “They know what we know. A vote for Travis Gibson is essentially a vote for D.L. Wilson.”

Precinct 2 was the last precinct held by Democrats before Commissioner Patricia Chisolm Miller died in January. The seat has been occupied by black commissioners since Lester Gibson, Travis Gibson’s father, took office in 1991. Miller, Gibson’s former administrative assistant, won the job when Gibson retired in 2018, defeating Wilson by a wide margin.

Wilson lost to Miller again in November 2022 by just 239 votes, with a margin of 51.1% to 48.9%.

At a special session on June 24, five months after Miller’s death, McLennan County Democrats nominated Davis over Gibson and Tracy Guillory. Davis is a Waco Independent School District trustee and Gibson is a Waco ISD employee and Bellmead City Council member.

Wilson received his party’s nomination at a meeting of county GOP leaders in July.

Mail messages sent out on Gibson’s behalf last week read: “Paid for by Gary Martin, 112 Northridge Road, Marble Falls.”

The website for RJ Machine Co., located at 112 N. Ridge Road in Marble Falls, says the company is owned by Gary Martin, a businessman in the gas business in the Midland area and a major donor to Gov. Greg. Abbott.

However, doubts remained on Friday about the authenticity of the donor’s statement.

Attorney Brad Beers, who lives in Precinct 2 near Waco, said in an email to the Tribune-Herald on Wednesday that he spoke briefly with Martin on Oct. 28 and that Martin denied any knowledge of the sender.

Beers, who described himself as a “former prosecutor who asks questions when things go wrong,” said in a phone call Friday that he believes the mailing is a “false flag operation” aimed either to damage Martin’s reputation as a Republican donor. or harm McLennan County Democrats’ chances of retaining the commissioner’s seat on the bench.

The Texas Tribune reported that Martin contributed $1.2 million to Abbott’s re-election campaign against Democrat Beto O’Rourke in 2022 and has supported Abbott over the years.

Campaign finance reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission show Martin donated $85,400 in-kind in the form of plane trips to Texans for Abbott. Transparency USA shows Martin has contributed about $843,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to Abbott and the PAC that supports his campaign over the past two years.

Gibson had not filed a campaign finance report with the county elections office as of the Oct. 28 deadline. Such reports are only required if applicants spend $1,080 or more. It is unclear how much the latest mailers cost or whether Gibson authorized their use.

McLennan County Elections Administrator Jared Goldsmith referred comments on campaign finance laws to the Texas Ethics Commission.

In the interview, Wilson had no idea that a GOP donor had paid for his opponent’s flyer. Local Republican Party Chairman Chris DeKluitt said he was unaware of the donation. Pat Curry, the Republican candidate in Texas House District 56 who campaigned for Wilson, said he knew nothing about it.

Davis, the Democratic candidate, called the mailer a lie.

“The use of the word ‘Democrat’ in this ad is deceptive,” Davis said by phone Thursday.

All three Democratic contenders for the Precinct 2 position, including Gibson, have agreed in advance to support the candidate 100 percent, Davis said.

“Being a person of integrity is an integral part of public service,” Davis said.

Davis said the district needs someone they can rely on. He is the party’s candidate and no one else should run as a Democrat.

Wilson, who works as police chief for the Riesel Independent School District, said previous Precinct 2 commissioners paid too little attention to rural parts of the precinct, focusing instead on part of East Waco. Wilson promised to repair rural roads and bridges.

DeKluitt said Wilson will represent both East Waco and rural parts of the county well.

Hayes noted that one side of the mailer shows the voting process using a different voting machine than the one used in this county and encourages voters to press a button on the machine.

McLennan County voters now fill out paper ballots that are scanned by machines.