District 1 candidates report April-June finances

The candidates for District 1 commissioner in Cape Girardeau County are backing up their words with cash.

And in the other hotly contested primary in Cape Girardeau County, two of the three Republican candidates for the 158th Missouri House seat are in a virtual tie for financial support, while the third candidate is running close behind.

All of the county commission hopefuls who filed financial disclosure reports by the 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline reported either giving or loaning their campaigns sums ranging from just over $800 to as much as $5,000. Two candidates, Democratic contender Myra Morris and Republican Ken Waldron, have not organized campaign committees to receive contributions. Another Republican candidate, Jeff Hahs, had not filed a disclosure statement.

The winners of the 10-way Republican primary and the three person Democratic primary will face off in November to succeed Larry Bock, a 16-year commission veteran who is stepping down.

The two leading fundraisers are in the Republican primary. Paul Koeper of Jackson, vice president of Penzel Construction, has raised the most, bringing in $2,520 from 65 contributors, plus a $5,000 loan from himself, during the April 1-June 30 period covered by the reports. That support raised his total to $14,192. Koeper has $314 remaining after expenses so far.

Meanwhile, Jackson Alderman Joe Bob Baker took in $7,105 from 47 contributors in the same period, raising his total to $11,655, including a $3,000 loan to his own campaign. He has reported spending $7,543 so far, including $1,316 he owes to a vendor, leaving Baker $5,428. Baker’s report included contributions from political notables in the county. Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones gave $100; Vincent Diebold, a Cape Girardeau County sheriff’s deputy who is married to county Collector Diane Diebold, gave $200; former county clerk Rodney Miller gave $50; and Jackson Mayor Barbara Lohr chipped in $325, the maximum contribution.

Three other candidates reported raising $5,000 or more for the contest — Rick Shultz, a Jackson businessman, added $600 to the $1,200 in loans he had made previously. He raised $3,572 in contributions with five named contributors and $2,257 from people giving $100 or less whose names are not required to be disclosed. Shultz has raised a total of $5,372 and has $91 on hand.

Stephen Daume, a Daisy cattle breeder, contributed $828.85 to his own effort during the reporting period and raised a total of $2,955 from 37 named contributors, bringing his total for the race to $6,555 and leaving him $720 after expenses.

Bill Hahs, owner of Semo Ag & Dairy and a member of the Road and Bridge Advisory Board, raised $6,899 in the period, including a $5,000 contribution to his own campaign. He has four other named contributors and reported that 65 people attended a fundraiser and gave small amounts. Hahs had $2,194 available July 1 for the remainder of the race.

Two candidates who may be banking on name recognition rather than large fundraising war chests reported less than $5,000. Tom Allen, former superintendent of Delta schools, raised $3,950, including a $1,000 loan to his campaign, and 11 named contributors. Allen had $1,067 remaining July 1.

Weldon Macke, who spent 34 years as the Cape Girardeau County auditor, took in $709 in contributions and chipped in a $1,500 loan to his campaign, raising his funding total to $3,785. Macke had $1,135 remaining July 1.

Tilsit farmer Rick Aufdenberg reported lending his campaign $2,500 and total fundraising of $2,653. He had $520 in his campaign treasury July 1.

In the 158th District race, Naval Reserve officer Clint Tracy reported raising $16,809 from 79 contributors in the three-month period and $26,924 so far. He had $21,776 in the bank. Wayne Wallingford, human resources director for McDonald’s of Southeast Missouri and a former U.S. Air Force officer, reported 74 contributions totaling $24,885 in the reporting period and $11,562 in the bank after expenses. Delta Companies executive Jeff Glenn, once an aide to former U.S. Sen. Jim Talent, took in $14,575 in the period from 65 contributors and reported raising $18,810 overall. Glenn had $12,264 on hand July 1.

rkeller@semissourian.com

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