Area candidates filling campaign chests

~ Voters will hear distinctly different views on the performance of the state legislature as election nears.

Incumbent Republican state Rep. Nathan Cooper scored big in fund-raising last month, bringing in more than 30 times the amount collected by Democratic challenger Matt Hill.

Cooper, who is seeking his second term representing Cape Girardeau in the Missouri House, collected $26,175, from July 28 to Sept. 2, according to a report filed this week with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Hill, meanwhile, took in only $624 in contributions. He also loaned his campaign $183.27.

Winning the 158th District seat would be a major coup for Democrats, who have not sent one of their party members to the Missouri House from Cape Girardeau since 1980.

Overall, Cooper has raised $42,787, while Hill has garnered $6,344. Cooper has $33,109 on hand to $3,457 for Hill.

The difference isn't a reason for despair, Hill said. "I actually didn't put a lot of time or effort into fund-raising this period," he said. "I have never expected that I could raise as much money as my opponent."

Hill said he would be holding fund-raising events in coming weeks.

Cooper raised most of his money in the latest round of contributions during a party on Aug. 25. Cooper reported raising $16,675 from 61 people at the event.

Cooper spent more than $100,000 winning his seat in 2004. He said Thursday that he won't need to raise that much again, but added that "we will raise enough money to make sure our message gets out."

In addition to his re-election fund-raising, Cooper reported paying back the final $9,408 he owed to himself for loans to his campaign in 2004. The money represents interest on more than $50,000 Cooper provided for his election bid that year.

The interest, calculated at 8 percent of the original loan, represents reimbursements to himself for interest payments made on a personal loan from a bank used to provide the initial campaign loan, Cooper said.

As the election nears, voters will hear distinctly different views on the accomplishments of the Missouri Legislature over the past two years. Cooper said he personally has worked on streamlining state building operations that "resulted in millions of dollars in savings."

Those efforts include bringing management of buildings and energy purchases under the authority of the Office of Administration and "privatization of state functions that are better suited to the private sector," he said.

Bringing money home to the district has also been a priority, Cooper said, including $750,000 for expansion of the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center and $100,000 for specialized playground equipment at the Parkview State School.

In addition, Cooper said he has supported Republican-led efforts to overhaul workers' compensation, medical malpractice litigation and the school funding formula.

"I had the good fortune to come in with a Republican governor and a Republican legislature that was able to do those things," he said.

Hill, meanwhile, questions both the effectiveness and the quality of the work done by the legislature during the past two years. The workers' compensation bill, he noted, was poorly drafted and has had little impact.

"Ask any employer if workers' compensation costs have gone down," Hill said. "And if he wants to talk about tort reform, protecting physicians and a broken justice system, ask if doctors' malpractice premiums are going down."

Hill also said the Republican majority in Jefferson City has sought to protect itself politically by passing a voter ID law to reduce turnout of the poor and elderly and that Cooper has sought to promote himself, not Cape Girardeau.

"The job he does is to further his political career," Hill said. "That is why he spends so much on a race for a job that pays less than he spends."

Libertarian candidate George Webster III has not reported raising or spending more than $500 for his campaign.

Other area campaigns where complete reports were available Thursday include:

* Presiding commissioner of Cape Girardeau County. Incumbent Republican Gerald Jones, seeking a fourth term, reported raising $1,960. He had $6,148 on hand for the November election. His Democratic opponent, Victor Farrow, has not reported raising any money.

* Circuit judge in the 32 Judicial Circuit. Democrat John Heisserer extended his fund-raising lead over incumbent Ben Lewis, a Republican. Heisserer reported raising $4,980, bringing his total to $29,569. Lewis reported raising $1,525, bringing his total to $17,210. Lewis has slightly more on hand, with $12,812 to $12,110 for Heisserer.

* Cape Girardeau County clerk. The final reports for the Republican primary show that Kara Clark, the winner of the primary, spent $22,446 to win an almost 2-to-1 victory over Jackson Mayor Paul Sander, who spent $30,232 on his campaign.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126

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158th District Missouri House

The following are the major contributors from July 28 to Sept. 2 in the 158th District Missouri House race. All contributors are from Cape Girardeau unless otherwise noted.

Matt Hill, Democrat:

Phil Brinson, $200; Donald and JoAnn Dickerson, $100; Dean White, $100.

Nathan Cooper, Republican:

Plaza Tire Service Inc., $250; Finch Insurance Agency, $125; Charlotte A. Bess, $125; Charles H. Cozean Jr., $650; 158th Republican Legislative Committee, $3,250; Scott Pringle, $325; Tyronza Pringle, $325; Sally Owen, $125; Service Employees International Union, St. Louis, $325; Divine Homes Realty, $325; John A. Clifton, $125; Janet L. Ludwig, $125; Jim White, St. Louis, $325; C. R. Talbert Jr., $325; Bettie M. Talbert, $325; Michael G. Deimund, $325; Carolyn M. Pruemer, $125; Truman R. Cole III, $325; 157th Legislative District Committee, Jackson, $1,375; Ameristar Casino - Kanas City Inc., Kansas City, Mo., $325; Edison Schools, New York, N.Y., $150; Missouri Time Sales Service Inc., Jefferson City, Mo., $325; Gary Rust, $325; Ameristar Casino St. Charles, St. Charles, Mo., $325; Isle of Capri Casinos Inc., Biloxi, Miss., $325; Pyramid Home Health Services, $650; Gary Rust, $325; Madge R. Reding, $100; James D. Maurer, $100; Gerald Jones, Jackson, $125; Phyllis J. Schwab, $125; Jerry N. Keele, $300; Cape Family Practice PC, $325; Albert C. Lowes, $100; Missouri Criminal Defense Lawyers PAC, Jefferson City, Mo., $300; Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers PAC, Jefferson City, Mo., $300; Kenneth W. Dobbins, $150; Gary G. Johnson, Jackson, $125; Richard L. Kies, $325; Robert J. Tlapek, $100; 106th Legislative District Republican Committee, Farmington, $1,375; Dr. John L. Sheets, $100; Gregory A. Tobin, $650; Dollar-Mart, Poplar Bluff, $650; Phyllis V. Schwab, $100; NFIB - Missouri Safe Trust, Washington, D.C., $325; MBA Pony Express Region PAC, Jefferson City, Mo., $325; MBA Capitol Region PAC, Jefferson City, Mo., $325; John Mackel, $650; Missouri Dump Truckers Association PAC, Jefferson City, Mo., $100; Richard L. Kies, $325; Gregory S. Leet, $125; Marlena Jones, $125; Stephen Strom, $125; Garmar LLC, Ironton, Mo., $500; Stacia L. Kasten, Jackson, $650; Delores Baker, $300; Heartland Family Physicians Clinic PC, Jackson, $650; Joanne Erlbacher, $325; Robert W. Erlbacher II, $325; Alice Manes, Jackson, $325; Stone Manes, Jackson, $325; Gerald W. Jones, $325; Amy S. Jones, $325; Ken Inman Property, $125; Donna C. Randen, Gideon, Mo., $650; M. Cathy White, St. Louis, $325.

Note: Some contributions to Cooper represent donations for the primary and the general election that have been combined to save space.

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32nd Judicial Circuit

Major contributors in the contest for circuit judge in the 32nd Judicial Circuit.

John Heisserer, Democrat

Sam Drusch, Jackson, $300; Harriett Drusch, Jackson, $300; Sam Austin, Cape Girardeau, $300; Laborers International Union Local 110, St. Louis, $325; Paul Allee, Jackson, $100; Jerry Woemmel, Cape Girardeau, $100; Missouri AFL-CIO, Jefferson City, Mo., $200; Annis Fortner, Dexter, Mo., $100; Myra Gremaud, Perryville, Mo., $250; Gremaud Farms, Perryville, Mo., $250; Semo Tank\Baker Equipment, Perryville, Mo., $500; Glen McAllister, Jackson, $350; Craftsman Independent Union, $100; Stan Grimm, Cape Girardeau, $325; Carolyn Kempf, Cape Girardeau, $100; Lowes & Drusch, Cape Girardeau, $325; Elevator Constructors, St. Louis, $100; Heat Frost Insulators, Bridgeton, Mo., $100; Cheryl Crowe, Los Angeles, Calif., $300.

Ben Lewis, Republican

Jeffrey Childers, Cape Girardeau, $200; T. Robin Cole II, Cape Girardeau, $325; Sue and Lonnie Moore, Millersville, $650.

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Presiding commissioner

Major contributors in the race for presiding commissioner of Cape Girardeau County.

Gerald Jones, Republican:

Committee to Re-Elect Jay Knudtson, Cape Girardeau, $200; Todd A. Ward Consultants, Jackson, $200; Dutchtown Enterprises, Dutchtown, $150; Prestigious Lawn Care, Dutchtown, $150; B & B Auto Salvage, Jackson, $100; Tom and Vanita Jones, Jackson, $100; Jack and Beverly Piepenbrok, Jackson, $100; Roger and Elizabeth Hudson, $100; Mitch and Debbie Robinson, Cape Girardeau, $150; Jane and Bobby Clark, Cape Girardeau, $150; Vince Kelley, Cape Girardeau, $325.

Victor Farrow, Democrat:

No fund-raising committee.

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Cape Girardeau County Clerk

Major contributors in the Republican primary for Cape Girardeau County Clerk.

Kara Clark

John Lichtenegger Revocable Trust, $300.

Paul Sander

Evelyn Puls, Jackson, $100; Mr. and Mrs. Ted Clark, Jackson, $550; Ron Cook, Jackson, $325; Brad Farthing, Jackson, $225; Mr. and Mrs. Dean Sawyer, Kyle Thompson, Jackson, $200; Kaci Thompson, Jackson, $200; Johnny Hahn, Jackson, $150; Joann Hahn, Jackson, $150; Mr. and Mrs. James Roach, Jackson, $100; Donald Dickerson, $300.

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32nd Judicial Circuit

Major contributors in the contest for circuit judge in the 32nd Judicial Circuit.

John Heisserer, Democrat

Sam Drusch, Jackson, $300; Harriett Drusch, Jackson, $300; Sam Austin, Cape Girardeau, $300; Laborers International Union Local 110, St. Louis, $325; Paul Allee, Jackson, $100; Jerry Woemmel, Cape Girardeau, $100; Missouri AFL-CIO, Jefferson City, Mo., $200; Annis Fortner, Dexter, Mo., $100; Myra Gremaud, Perryville, Mo., $250; Gremaud Farms, Perryville, Mo., $250; Semo Tank\Baker Equipment, Perryville, Mo., $500; Glen McAllister, Jackson, $350; Craftsman Independent Union, $100; Stan Grimm, Cape Girardeau, $325; Carolyn Kempf, Cape Girardeau, $100; Lowes & Drusch, Cape Girardeau, $325; Elevator Constructors, St. Louis, $100; Heat Frost Insulators, Bridgeton, Mo., $100; Cheryl Crowe, Los Angeles, Calif., $300.

Ben Lewis, Republican

Jeffrey Childers, Cape Girardeau, $200; T. Robin Cole II, Cape Girardeau, $325; Sue and Lonnie Moore, Millersville, $650.

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Presiding commissioner

Major contributors in the race for presiding commissioner of Cape Girardeau County.

Gerald Jones, Republican:

Committee to Re-Elect Jay Knudtson, Cape Girardeau, $200; Todd A. Ward Consultants, Jackson, $200; Dutchtown Enterprises, Dutchtown, $150; Prestigious Lawn Care, Dutchtown, $150; B & B Auto Salvage, Jackson, $100; Tom and Vanita Jones, Jackson, $100; Jack and Beverly Piepenbrok, Jackson, $100; Roger and Elizabeth Hudson, $100; Mitch and Debbie Robinson, Cape Girardeau, $150; Jane and Bobby Clark, Cape Girardeau, $150; Vince Kelley, Cape Girardeau, $325.

Victor Farrow, Democrat:

No fund-raising committee.

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Cape Girardeau County Clerk

Major contributors in the Republican primary for Cape Girardeau County Clerk.

Kara Clark

John Lichtenegger Revocable Trust, $300.

Paul Sander

Evelyn Puls, Jackson, $100; Mr. and Mrs. Ted Clark, Jackson, $550; Ron Cook, Jackson, $325; Brad Farthing, Jackson, $225; Mr. and Mrs. Dean Sawyer, Kyle Thompson, Jackson, $200; Kaci Thompson, Jackson, $200; Johnny Hahn, Jackson, $150; Joann Hahn, Jackson, $150; Mr. and Mrs. James Roach, Jackson, $100; Donald Dickerson, $300.