Dave Rogers

For The Record

Hershel Stagner Jr., might have gotten his job as a mid-term replacement but the Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace leaves little doubt he wants to keep it.

Stagner reported $3,900 in campaign contributions, $5,968 in expenses and a surplus of $15,350 on his final pre-election financial report.

In contrast, his opponent, Gail Barnett listed no contributions and $1,707 in expenses, all from her personal funds.

In Orange County’s only other contested race, Theresa Beauchamp reported $1,100 in contributions and $853 in expenses.

Her opponent, Democrat Deborah Mitchell, did not file a three-month report due Oct. 9.

Both Stagner and Beauchamp accepted $1,000 donations from the Executive Committee of the Orange County Republican Party.

The Orange County GOP held a large fundraiser in March with more than 300 attending a $75 a plate dinner that featured Gov. Greg Abbott and Congressman Brian Babin.

Besides the local GOP, Stagner reported a $1,000 donation from Brown and Linda Claybar of Orange. He also scored a $500 gift from the Republican Party of Texas and $300 each from James Goodman of Orange, and William and Judith Klein of Bridge City.

Stagner’s report includes an outstanding $10,000 personal loan from the fall.

His July through September expenses were all for advertising, the biggest a Sept. 7 payment of $2,150 to radio station KOGT, followed by a $1,324 billboard from Lamar Advertising. He spent $550 for advertising with the LCM Athletic Booster Club and $540 with the Record Newspapers.

Barnett lost to Judge David Peck in the JP 1 race in 2014 and unsuccessfully sought the interim appointment that went to Stagner after a health emergency forced Peck to retire at the end of 2016.

Most of her July through September expenses came in a $1,165 payment to Beaumont’s Image 360 for advertising.

Besides the local Republicans, Beauchamp received a $100 contribution from William Shaddock of Plano, an Orange native who owns Capital Title here.

Her expenses included $375 for advertising with the Record Newspapers and $185 with 4All Promotions of Connecticut for campaign swag.