House candidates report fundraising totals

A $5,000 personal loan to his own campaign helped propel the Democratic candidate in the Feb. 5 special election for Cape Girardeau's Missouri House seat ahead of his Republican opponent in the first round of fundraising reports.

Mike Keefe, the Democratic nominee and former Cape Girar-deau postmaster, reported lending his own campaign $5,000 and receiving $1,575 in contributions since winning his party's nod on Sept. 6.

Former state Rep. Mary Kasten, who received the GOP nomination Sept. 20, reported raising $4,170 since entering the race.

Libertarian George H. Webster, who is making his second bid for the office, did not file a report. In the 2006 campaign, Webster filed a notice with the Missouri Ethics Commission that he was exempt from disclosure because he planned to raise or spend less than $1,000 on the election.

The Feb. 5 election will fill the seat vacated by Nathan Cooper, a Republican, after his guilty plea in federal court to two counts of felony immigration fraud.

Keefe reported receiving seven contributions ranging from $100 to the legal maximum of $325. Keefe reported spending $392 so far, mostly on postage.

Kasten reported 12 contributions, 11 of which were the legal maximum of $325. She also reported raising $345 from donors who gave less than $100 and who are not listed by name in her report. Kasten reported no spending.

The reports cover the period through Sept. 30.

The $5,000 loan to the campaign represents a commitment to winning the seat, Keefe said. "I don't do anything to lose," he said.

The loan is seed money to make sure the campaign can afford initial expenses such as brochures, campaign stickers and signs, Keefe said. The next step is to contact friends and associates and ask them for support and contributions, he said.

"I've never tried to ask people for money before," he said.

The Cape Girardeau seat in the Missouri House has not been held by a Democrat since Jerry Ford won the office in the 1978 and 1980 elections. Keefe said he's going to emphasize a fiscally conservative approach to state spending and the need to attract businesses that will bring good jobs to the region.

Kasten said she, too, is happy with the initial fund-raising results. Her long-time role in area politics -- Kasten won the House seat in 1982, giving it up in 2000 when her late husband became ill -- is paying off in contributions, she said. "Since I have been around a while, they remember my name really well," she said.

Kasten will be holding a campaign kick-off party Saturday at the Marquette Tower after the Southeast Missouri State University homecoming parade.

rkeller@semissourian.com

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