“Diet Developers, Family Plans, and the Dollar Menu of Democracy”

If Part 1 of Follow the Money felt like a black-tie developer gala with valet parking and six-figure checks, then Part 2 is more of a backyard barbecue. Still political. Still smoky. Just… different and fewer lobsters.

This round, we cracked open the campaign finance reports of Shona Sowell and Rod Vilhauer, two mayoral candidates whose donor lists tell very different stories, neither of which includes a $100,000 developer cannon blast like John Keating.

Shona Sowell

At first glance you notice some developers but a scroll through the whole campaign finance report feels more like someone who has there feet on the ground.  The report covering July 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025 shows:

Total Monetary Contributions: $40,073.71

In-Kind Contributions: $8,000

In Frisco politics, that’s not chump change—but it’s also not “who just bought City Hall?” money.

Donations Over $1,000 (aka: The Grown-Ups Table)

There’s a mix here: locals, professionals, and yes… developers. But unlike other reports we’ve seen, this list reads more like a community fundraiser than a developer convention.

A few highlights:

• Trevor Huber (Frisco, Modera Clinic) – $5,000
• Fehmi & Elisabeth Karahan (Fields Development) – $3,000
• Chris & Ashlee Kleinert (Hunt Investment Holdings / Fields Dev) – $1,000
• Mimi & William Vanderstraaten (Chief Partners / Fields Dev) – $2,000
• Todd & Sandra Armstrong (Crosstie Capital / Fields Dev) – $2,000
• Robert Shaw (Columbus Realty Partners / Legacy West) – $3,000
• John & Eleanor Landon (Landon Homes) – $3,000

Yes, developers are present. No one’s pretending otherwise. But this is more “sprinkle” than “avalanche.”  Think side salad, not the whole buffet.  Also worth noting: a solid number of Frisco residents, modest four-figure donations, and contributions that look personal—not corporate firehoses disguised as civic pride.

The Amended Report

Sowell’s amended report (March 2 – June 30, 2025) adds a little spice:

• Dr. Tim & Kathi Schacherer (Frisco) – $10,000
• Frank Peinado (Construction, Aubrey) – $10,000
• Jared Patterson Campaign – $7,500
• 3 Peinado Construction Executives – $3,000 each
• Kappi & Steve Helms (Frisco) – $5,000
• Monica & Marty Wood (Real Estate) – $2,500
• Ryan Griffin (President of FCS) – $5,000

Is construction money here? Yes.  Is it coordinated? It looks organized.  Is it eye-popping compared to other mayoral candidates? Not even close.  This is developer money with the volume knob turned way down.

Question for voters: Is Sowell managing influence—or just keeping the lights on without selling the building?

Next up, Rod Vilhauer: “Keep It in the Family” Edition

Now let’s talk about Rod Vilhauer, whose first campaign finance report (filed 10/28/25, covering Nov 1 – Dec 31, 2025) shows:

The Donor List (Short. Sweet. Familiar.)

• Clark Vilhauer – $20,000
• Jerry Vilhauer – $1,000
• Rod Vilhauer – $1,000
• Angela Carrizales – $2,500
• Kristen Lively – $1,000

That’s it.  No developers.  No PACs.  No LLC alphabet soup.  No mystery money from three cities over.  Just family, friends, and one very generous Clark Vilhauer carrying this thing like an Olympic torch. If this were a movie, it wouldn’t be Follow the Money.
It would be We’re Pooling Resources.

Question for voters: Is this independence—or simply a campaign still warming up?

The Big Picture: Relative Cleanliness Is Still a Thing

Let’s be clear:

• Sowell took developer money, but nowhere near the scale of other mayoral candidates past or present.
• Vilhauer’s report looks less like a political machine and more like a family potluck.

No six-figure developer bombs.  No mystery entities with zero web presence.  No PACs lurking like political middlemen in trench coats.  In today’s Frisco political climate, that alone feels… novel.

Final Thought: Who’s Buying, Who’s Borrowing, and Who’s Betting on Themselves?

Campaign finance reports don’t tell us who will be the best mayor.  But they do tell us who expects access, who expects influence, and who expects nothing more than a fightingchance. So we’ll leave you with this:

Is “less money” actually more independence?
Is family-funded better than developer-funded?
And in Frisco politics, is the quietest check sometimes the loudest signal?

Stay tuned. The money may slow down—but the questions won’t.

Candidate Website: Shona Sowell For Frisco Mayor

Candidate Website: Rod Vilhauer For Frisco Mayor

Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief. It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary. Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical. Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.