Four Cape Girardeau County Commission candidates report fundraising

Only four of the 14 candidates for the District 1 seat on the Cape Girardeau County Commission reported this week that they have raised money for their campaigns, and only two of those four reported donations from anyone besides themselves.

The four of the candidates who filed disclosure reports by mid-day Wednesday were Rick Aufdenberg of Jackson, Joe Bob Baker of Jackson, Weldon Macke of Cape Girardeau and Rick Schultz of Jackson. All are Republicans.

There are 14 candidates, 11 Republicans and three Democrats, on the August primary ballot to replace retiring County Commissioner Larry Bock. Of the 14, only eight have created campaign committees to raise money for the primary contest.

Disclosure reports were due Tuesday for candidates who have raised or spent at least $1,000 for the election.

Aufdenberg reported lending his campaign $2,500, while Schultz reported raising $1,200.

Macke reported raising $1,576, including a $201 donation from himself and five other contributions, including $300 from his campaign treasurer, Jackson alderman David Hitt, and $300 from the campaign fund of state Rep. Billy Pat Wright, R-Dexter. Wright and Macke are close political friends.

Baker reported raising $4,550, including a $3,000 personal loan to his campaign and seven other donations, including $250 each from Sheriff John Jordan and his wife, Cathy Jordan, an employee in the county collector's office, and $325 each from Ron Clark and Bobby Clark, area developers who have known Baker for many years.

Candidates contacted for this article said they are just gearing up for the upcoming primary, which will be Aug. 5, and said money is not the most important part of their campaign effort.

"I had set it down to pencil and paper and think that $2,500 would be all a guy would need," said Macke, who was Cape Girardeau County auditor for 34 years before 2002. He acknowledged that campaign signs and literature are more expensive than in the past and he may need more.

"You would hate to not do anything you could," he said.

Other candidates made higher estimates of their campaign budgets, adding that grassroots effort such as door-to-door campaigning, newspaper advertising and campaign signs would be a big part of their campaigns.

Baker estimated he would need $15,000 for the campaign he is planning.

"You have got to really work hard on this," he said. "You have got to go door to door and get your signs out."

The support of the Jordans is from ties of friendship, Baker said. The Jordans along with County Collector Diane Diebold were important supporters in County Clerk Kara Clark's successful primary contest against then-Jackson Mayor Paul Sander in 2006.

"John and I have been friends a long time," Baker said.

Baker said his loan to the campaign was intended to get his effort underway and he is planning fund-raising events in the near future.

Tom Allen, the former Delta School District superintendent, has organized a campaign but did not file a disclosure report. He formed his committee April 3, which means he was not required to file a report since his committee did not exist before March 31.

"I have no experience in campaigning," Allen said. "I am playing it by ear and doing what needs to be done."

Bill Hahs, owner of SEMO Ag & Dairy, has not filed committee organization papers. He said he hasn't raised or spent any money yet, deciding to wait until after the April 8 elections for school board and municipal offices to put his campaign in gear.

Hahs said he expects to put some of his own money into the campaign but did not indicate an amount.

The other candidates who have filed committee organization papers are Pat Wissman, a Democrat from Jackson, Paul Koeper, a Republican from Jackson, and Stephen Daume, a Republican from Jackson.

The candidates who have not filed committee organization paperwork are Jeff Hahs, a Republican from Oak Ridge, Ken Evans, a Republican from Jackson, Kenneth Waldron, a Republican from Jackson, Marvin McMillan, a Democrat from Friedheim, and Myra Morris, a Democrat from Jackson.

In other campaign news:

• Clint Tracy, one of three candidates hoping to win the GOP nomination for state representative in the 158th Missouri House District, filed an amended report showing he has raised $10,115 since joining the race in March. That amount includes a $5,000 loan to his campaign, but his fund-raising surpassed rivals Jeff Glenn and Wayne Wallingford. "I thought the support we have gotten in a short amount of time is really encouraging," Tracy said.
• U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson reported raising $102,617 from Jan. 1 to March 30 for her re-election bid. The Cape Girardeau Republican has raised $628,691 since Jan. 1, 2007 and had $359,862 on hand at the end of the reporting period. Her Democratic Party opponent, lawyer Joe Allen of Forsyth, Mo., did not file a disclosure report on Tuesday. Federal candidates are not required to file disclosure reports unless they have raised $5,000 or more for their campaigns.

rkeller@semissourian.com

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