UPDATE: Larry Smith for Congress Campaign Finance Report 3/31/14

Larry Smith, a personable young Republican and military veteran, is contending against Filemon Vela to represent District 34 in the U.S. House of Representatives.  

Smith's Campaign Finance Report, dated 3/31/14,  gives us a peak at his dispersal of donated campaign funds, dining and travel habits.  

Just as we've looked at other campaign's spending in the past including that of Filemon Vela, we share these tidbits from the Smith report:

Smith's dining habits line up with his reputation as a fiscal conservative.  Burger King, Taco Bell, Whataburger, Wendy's are frequent dining stops.  He must dine frequently alone as many of the charges are for 5 or 6 dollars.  One interesting charge was for $184.34 spent at Advocare for "dietary supplements."  

Smith does not spare the expense when it comes to personal grooming, spending $198.00 at Knockouts 12/31/13, a hair salon for men featuring scantily clad girls.  He returned 2/2/14 for more grooming, spending another $40 of contributed money, then went to Master Cuts two days later, 2/5/14, for a touchup for $41.00.

Pastor Brad Burke

Pastor Brad Burke, frequently the clergyman blessing City Commission meetings, was given $200 for "labor reimbursement."  $113 was spent at J.C. Penney for "nedeties," $194 to Texas Farm Bureau for insurance.

Meeting at the Tilted Kilt

On 11/18/13 Smith visited the Tilted Kilt for a "meal/meeting," spending $40.  

The report lists a payment to "Larry Smith" for "reimbursement."  It is not uncommon for candidates to loan their campaign money, then reimburse themselves when the contributions flow in.

What I've never seen before on a campaign report is Smith giving himself an "allowance" of $1701 on 12/31/13 and another "allowance" of $600.  Is that legal?  If so, why don't all candidates simply declare all their expenditures as an "allowance" and simplify everything?

An addendum from the editor: Mr. Smith just called me to clarify some things in his campaign report.

He described the $198 expenditure at Knockout as "cumulative," for haircuts he'd received between 3/13 and 12/31/13.  He estimated he'd received perhaps 7-10 haircuts for that amount, also indicating he's a generous tipper.(His daughter is friends with the daughter of his hairdresser.)

He described the "allowances" mentioned as simply repayments for monies he'd contributed to his own campaign.  

Smith also called attention to his large expenditure for gasoline to travel the district, also motel expense.  

Smith stated that he's married with three children, basically funding the campaign on his own with a combined family income of $32,000.