A Democratic official blasted State Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson for failing to disclose the employers of 22 campaign donors and not listing categories for 53 campaign expenses on fundraising reports filed this year.

John Cullar, treasurer of the McLennan County Democratic Party, held a news conference Friday and alleged Anderson violated state ethics rules and election laws by omitting the information on three reports filed on July 15, Oct. 4 and Oct. 25.

Cullar said he was mailing a complaint to the Texas Ethics Commission later in the day.

"Doc" Anderson (right) said Friday's news conference was a “ploy,” and a last-ditch effort to help his opponent, John Mabry (left).

Texas law states candidates must list the occupation and employer of donors who give at least $500.

On one Anderson report, the occupation of Bob Perry — one of the biggest GOP donors in the country — is listed as “construction/owner” and an employer box is left empty.

Perry, who gave Anderson $10,000, is the founder of Houston-based Perry Homes, one of the nation’s largest residential home builders.

Other Republicans in local races who received money from Perry, including state House challenger Marva Beck and former state Sen. David Sibley, listed his company on recent campaign finance reports.

Cullar argued the omission of various donors’ companies on Anderson’s reports could obscure how powerful business interests are working to influence the Legislature.

“Campaign finance laws are designed to bring transparency to Texas campaigns,” Cullar said. “But ‘Doc’ Anderson habitually denies the public their right to see where his campaign money is coming from and what it is really being spent on.”

He also said Anderson’s alleged violations show a pattern, noting the representative was fined for campaign finance problems on three occasions in 2002 and once in 2004.

“How can we count on ‘Doc’ to balance our Texas budget when he can’t even fill out a campaign finance report properly?” Cullar added.

Anderson said the news conference was a “ploy,” and a last-ditch effort to help his opponent, former State Rep. John Mabry, a Democrat.

“We make an earnest attempt to fill those out correctly,” Anderson said. “I won’t say there’s not a mistake, but I don’t think there is.”

Anderson said he’s not familiar with the omissions Cullar singled out on his financial reports.

And even if his campaign did run afoul of the rules, Anderson said the Democrats’ timing is suspicious.

“Why would they wait until the 11th hour to bring it up?” he asked. “The Ethics Commission won’t even look at these things until after the election’s over.”

The latest round of campaign finance reports were due on Monday of this week and became publicly available Tuesday.

mshapiro@wacotrib.com

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