ELECTION: PACs HEAVILY INVOLVED IN 155TH DISTRICT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Political action committees are providing most of the financial support in the 155th District legislative race, but particularly to incumbent state Rep. Pat Naeger.

During the latest reporting period, which covered most of Sept. 3 through Sept. 30, Naeger, a Perryville, Mo., Republican, raised $4,297.53, all in itemized contributions. Of that amount, 78 percent -- all but $925 -- came from PACs, groups which advocate particular issues, political parties or ideologies.

John Wibbenmeyer of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., the Democratic challenger, had $1,650 in itemized contributions, all from PACs. He raised a total of $3,040 during the period, including anonymous or small donations.

Wibbenmeyer had six itemized donations, all for the maximum for a House race of $275. Naeger had 23 listed donors, seven of whom gave the maximum.

Only $250 of Naeger's money came from sources within the 155th District, with 94 percent, including the PAC donations, coming from elsewhere. His in-district contributions were $50 from Cushman's, a Perryville retail store, and $100 each from separate Ready Mix Concrete accounts in Perryville and Ste. Genevieve.

In-district contributions for Wibbenmeyer totaled $550, or one-third of his itemized donations. Those came from the Ste. Genevieve County Democratic Committee and the Ste. Genevieve Education Association.

The 155th District represents Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties.

For the whole election, Naeger had raised $45.595.95 compared to $14,563.33 for Wibbenmeyer, a better than 3-to-1 advantage for the incumbent.

Naeger had expenditures of $28,400.08, more than four times the $6,773.46 spent by Wibbenmeyer.

However, Wibbenmeyer's bank account trailed his opponent's by only about $2,700. Naeger had $11,179.38 in cash-on-hand while Wibbenmeyer had $8,492.16.

WHO GAVE WHAT TO WHOM?

Contributions to candidates for state representative in the 155th District for the reporting period of Sept. 3 through Sept. 30. Listed are donor, city and amount:

Rep. Pat Naeger, R-Perryville

Heavy Constructors Association PAC, Kansas City, $100; Life Underwriters PAC, Jefferson City, $275; Quick Trip Corp., Tulsa, Okla., $200; AGC MO PAC, Jefferson City, $275; AGC of St. Louis, $150; PAN-M, Jefferson City, $100; Cushman's, Perryville, $50; NAII Political Account, Des Plaines, Ill., $250; Motot Carrier PAC, Independence, $200; Ready Mix Concrete, Ste. Genevieve, $100; Ready Mix Concrete, Fredericktown, $100; Ready Mix Concrete, Perryville, $100; Sprint of Missouri PAC, Jefferson City, $250; Southwestern Bell Missouri PAC, St. Louis, $275; Missouri Optimetric PAC, Jefferson City, $100; Mutual Insurance PAC, Sikeston, $275; MMH PAC, Jefferson City, $250; Household International, Wood Dale, Ill., $275; NFIB Missouri Safe Trust, Washington, D.C., $275; GTE Good Government, Jefferson City, $275; AMEC PAC, Jefferson City, $200; Missouri Right To Life, Jefferson City, $22.53; Defense Lawyers, Jefferson City, $200.

John Wibbenmeyer, D-Ste. Genevieve

Majority 2000, Nixa, $275; FUTURE, Springfield, $275; Missouri State Council 72, $275; Ste. Genevieve County Democratic Committee, $275; Missouri NEA PAC, $275; Ste. Genevieve Education Association, Ste. Genevieve, $275.

Source: Campaign finance disclosure reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission