Big Bucks Back Losers in the Park Cities

SO FAR THIS ELECTION YEAR, residents in ZIP code 75205- the Park Cities-have coughed up more money for presidential politics than all but eight other ZIP codes in the country. (At the top: 10021 and 10022, aka Wall Street.)

According to Federal Election Commission records. From Jan. 1, 1995 through Feb. 29, 1996, residents in Highland Park and University Park gave a total of $275,650 to the top 10 declared candidates for president. (Campaigns must itemize contributions over $200; the maximum an individual can give is $1,000 per primary and general election.)

Senator Bob Dole, who has cinched the Republican nomination, received only $29,850 of those contributions. Backers who put their money on the winning horse included plastic surgeon Dr. Sam T. Hamra, Dale P. Jones of Halliburton, Glenn R. Simmons of Contran Corp., John P. Tatum of Pensico, and developer Trammell Crow.

But the vast majority of the money went on horses that faded in the stretch-or never made it to the starting line in the March Texas primary: Phil Gramm ($168,250), Pete Wilson ($19,500), Lamar Alexander ($12,250), Richard Lugar ($6,250), Steve Forbes ($4,250), Arlen Specter ($2,000), and Alan Keyes ($1,250). Pat Buchanan ended up on the negative side of the ledger, with $200 in contributions being returned to Dr. Lindsay M. Owens.

Those betting on Gramm, who quit the race in February, included John L. Adams of Texas Commerce Bank, George Bayoud of Raven Interests, Louis Beecherl, a Dallas investor and long-time player in Republican politics, developer Bum Bright, auto dealer J.L. Huffines, Texas Instruments CEO Jerry Junkins, car dealer Carl Sewell, real estate mogul Henry S. Miller, Jr., and-hedging their bets?-John P. Tatum and Trammell Crow.

Despite the reputation of the Park Cities as GOP heaven, residents of 75205-including Denise Lites, chairman of the board for the Dallas Stars, and attorneys Frank Branson, George Bramblett, and Richard C. Levin-anted up $32,250 for Bill Clinton. The big money matchup, of course, will come this November.