ORANGE (July 20, 2012)--The Republican runoff race for a new southeast Texas congressional district seat has one candidate who’s spending big money to get noticed against an underfunded opponent who's already well known, doesn't live in the district and appears to be running what amounts to a stealth campaign.

Stephen Takach is a financial adviser from Baytown who’s making his first political run.

He faces former one-term congressman Steve Stockman in the July 31 GOP runoff election iin the new Texas 36th District, one of four seats added to Texas because of population gains.

The district includes nine counties from east Houston to Orange and north to Newton and Jasper.

Records show Takach has spent more than a half-million dollars, most of it his own money, in the race.

Stockman has spent less than one-fifth of that.