KVIA Houston historical preservationist and billionaire businessman J.P. Bryan during a debate at ABC-7's studios over Duranguito. EL PASO, Texas -- Houston preservationist J.P. Bryan has funded a legal battle against El Paso's proposed downtown multipurpose arena and donated tens of thousands of dollars to El Paso City Council candidates in the last two elections. Last month, he reached out to Mayor Oscar Leeser — a recipient of a $5,000 Bryan campaign contribution three months earlier — in what Bryan said was an effort “to end all of this litigation,” according to voicemails and text messages obtained by El Paso Matters.