SADDLES AND SPURS RIDING $$ HIGH PAST OPPOSED ARENA GROUP

          According to campaign finance reports filed yesterday
     with the TX Ethics Commission and the Bexar County clerk,
     the Saddles and Spurs Committee "had raised" $2.1M and
     "spent a little more than that" on its campaign for a new
     arena, according to Tom Bower of the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-
     NEWS.  Meanwhile, the opposition group Citizens for
     Responsible Spending reported raising $385,214 and spending
     $352,840.  Bower noted that the Citizens for Responsible
     Spending "appear on their way toward raising" the $500,000
     they say is "needed to win at the ballot box" on November 2,
     but they "still lag far behind the Spurs-financed campaign." 
     The Saddles and Spurs report also revealed that more than
     $518,000 "added to their campaign" came from the Spurs,
     while the Citizens for Responsible Spending "reported
     contributions from a variety of sources," including
     individuals and businesses.  Bower added that the Saddles
     and Spurs campaign is "said to be prepared to spend as much
     as" $4M on the referendum (S.A. EXPRESS-NEWS, 10/26).