7 candidates file finance reports by deadline

Reports for other candidates will be available later today.

The fundraising leaders in Cape Girardeau County's two most closely contested primary races sustained their advantage during the first three weeks of July, new reports filed Monday revealed.

District 1 Commissioner

Only seven of the 13 candidates for District 1 Commissioner filed reports by the close of business Monday, the deadline for reports. Late filers are subject to a $10-a-day fine.

Republican candidates who filed reports Monday include Paul Koeper, vice president of Penzel Construction; Joe Bob Baker, a Jackson alderman and salvage yard operator; Tom Allen, former superintendent of the Delta School District; Rick Shultz, an independent lighting salesman; and Rick Aufdenberg, a Tilsit farmer.

GOP candidates who missed the deadline are Weldon Macke, a former county auditor; Bill Hahs, owner of Semo Ag & Dairy; Jeff Hahs, an Oak Ridge contractor; Kenneth Waldron, a Jackson businessman; and Stephen Daume, a Daisy cattle breeder.

Two of the three Democrats, Pat Wissman, a recently retired trucker, and Marvin McMillan, a truck driver for Ready Mix Concrete, also filed reports before the deadline. Myra Morris did not file a report.

Of those who filed, Koeper reported raising the most during the period, $6,621, increasing his total for the campaign to $20,483. Koeper has spent almost all of the money, leaving him $956 in the bank on July 24, the last day of the reporting period.

Jackson Alderman Joe Bob Baker maintained his second-place status in the money chase, raising $4,313, including a $1,500 loan to his own campaign. Baker has raised a total of $15,968 for the race and had $2,306 on hand at the end of the period.

158th House seat

In the contest for the 158th District Missouri House seat, Naval Reserve officer Clint Tracy took in $9,125 during the reporting period, more than his opponents, businessman and retired U.S. Air Force officer Wayne Wallingford and Delta Companies executive Jeff Glenn, combined. Tracy has raised $36,049 for the campaign and had $11,448 on hand.

Wallingford raised $1,674, bringing his total to $26,559. He had $2,558 on hand. Glenn raised $5,615 during the reporting period, bringing his total to $25,365 and leaving him $11,384 on hand for the final push.

The reports filed Monday are the last finance reports due before the election. Candidates must, however, report any contributions of $250 or more in special reports during the period up to the Aug. 5 election.

The 158th District seat winner will face Libertarian Robert Roland in the fall campaign. No Democrat filed to contest the seat that has been in Republican hands since 1982.

Sparring candidates

The District 1 Commission race attracted 10 Republicans and three Democrats after incumbent Republican Larry Bock decided not to seek another term in office. Covering most of Cape Girardeau County outside the Cape Girardeau city limits, the contestants have sparred over county road policies and each has sought to convince voters that they can restore trust in county government.

Among the other Republican commission candidates who filed Monday, Aufdenberg reported the most new money. Aufdenberg is self-funding his campaign and put $4,625 in during the first three weeks of July, bringing his total to $7,308. He reported a bank balance of $18.17.

Allen added $1,000 from personal funds to his campaign, bringing his total for the race to $4,950, of which $2,000 has come in the form of loans to the campaign. Allen had $340 in the bank.

And Schultz reported $725 in new contributions and $2,400 in new personal loans to his campaign. He has spent $7,956 so far and has $87.16 in the bank.

The Democrats showed little new fundraising. Wissman raised $56.20 in the form of an in-kind donation, while McMillan added $150 to his funds. Wissman has raised a total of $2,673, including $2,025 from his own funds, while McMillan has raised $4,390, including $3,100 in loans to his own campaign.

Jeff Hahs did not report Monday, but his quarterly report, which was filed late July 18, showed he had raised $7,747, of which $7,598 was reported as personal loans to his own campaign.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126