AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS MOBILIZES FOR CAMPAIGN

Proponents of two school funding measures are relying on what Cape Girardeau banker Jim Limbaugh calls a "small army of volunteers" and campaign consultants to get their message across to the voters.

Citizens for Better Schools is promoting passage of a $25 million bond issue and a building fund levy hike in the Cape Girardeau School District through talks to service clubs, the mailing of brochures, and the use of phone banks to reach the voters.

In all, the campaign is expected to cost about $50,000, said Limbaugh, president of Boatmen's Bank of Cape Girardeau and the finance chairman for Citizens for Better Schools.

Limbaugh said the campaign price tag is well worth it because of the importance of the ballot measures in making needed improvements in the Cape Girardeau school system.

He said hundreds of people are involved in the phone-bank effort. "That's a small and effective army, which is necessary to educate the voters. It is a very personal, one-on-one campaign, as opposed to a huge media blitz, which is expensive and ineffective," said Limbaugh.

The campaign has relied on assistance from Tretter-Gorman Inc. of St. Louis, a marketing and communications firm.

"What the consulting firm does is provide organizational support," explained Limbaugh. "A campaign of this importance requires professional support."

From Dec. 10 of last year through Feb. 16, more than $13,200 was paid to the firm, according to campaign finance reports on file at the Cape Girardeau county clerk's office in Jackson.

As of Feb. 25, the 40-days-before-election report shows total monetary contributions of $20,250 and monetary expenses of more than $19,400.

The expense figure includes more than $13,200 in campaign costs. Another $6,150 has been spent toward repaying a loan.

The campaign has received $10,250 in private contributions, as well as a $10,000 loan through Boatmen's Bank.

Cape Girardeau banks have been major backers of the campaign, the finance reports show.

Boatmen's Bank has contributed $2,000; AmeriFirst Bank, Commerce Bank, Capital Bank and Mercantile Bank, $1,000 each; and First National Bank, $750.

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce has contributed $1,000 to the campaign, as has Biokyowa Inc., one of the city's manufacturers.

The chamber has been a strong supporter of the school measures, said Harry Rediger, treasurer for Citizens for Better Schools and chairman of the chamber board.

"The chamber board has unanimously endorsed the bond issue and the tax levy and we are supporting it with our funds and our time and effort," he said.

Many chamber members, he said, have been out campaigning for passage of the two school funding measures.

Other monetary contributions to the campaign include $500 from Neurological Consultants of Cape Girardeau, $250 from W.E. Walker Co., and $200 from the accounting firm of Hillin & Clark.

Limbaugh has personally contributed $150 to the campaign, as has Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep.

Cape Computer Services Inc. has provided $750 worth of in-kind contributions, finance reports show.

Final campaign finance reports won't be filed until after the April 6 election.