HOUSE INCUMBENTS FACING CHALLENGES

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Campaign records show Democratic challenger Van Harry Sharp had more than twice as much money in the bank as Republican incumbent state Rep. Lanie Black in their 161st District legislative race.

Although Sharp, a New Madrid, Mo., businessman, had the fatter campaign warchest, both candidates raised comparable amounts of money during the latest reporting period and Black, a freshman legislator from Charleston, Mo., has already spent $22,000 more in the campaign.

The 161st District encompasses most of Mississippi and New Madrid counties and the eastern portion of Scott County, including Scott City, Mo.

In the neighboring 160th District, Republican incumbent Rep. Peter Myers of Sikeston, Mo., who too is seeking a second term, had double the cash-on-hand as Democrat Fran Robison, also of Sikeston. Spending had been close, but Myers held the edge in recent fund raising.

The 160th District covers most of Scott County, including Sikeston, and the western portion of Mississippi County.

The campaign finance information comes from disclosure reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission covering the period of July 28 through Sept. 2.

Both seats had been solidly in Democratic hands for decades until Black and Myers scored tight victories in 1998, each winning by less than 100 votes.

So far in this election, Black has spent $24,419.04, compared to just $2,269.33 in expenditures for Sharp. Fund-raising during the latest period was close with Sharp taking in $8,786 and Black receiving $8,150. But going into the final two month before the November election, Sharp had $16,690.67 on hand while Black had $8,271.48.

Sharp had received 43 itemized donations, 32 of which were for $100 or less. Six donors gave Sharp the maximum of $275. The New Madrid County Democratic Committee gave Sharp $700. Political parties are not subject to contribution caps.

With the exception of that donation, and three others totaling $675, the rest of Sharp's contributions came from individuals, most from within the 161st District.

There were 47 donations to Black, 25 of which were for $100 or less. Seven donors gave him the maximum. All but six of Black's donations, totaling $1,275, came from individuals.

The campaigns of fellow Republican lawmakers gave Black $1,075. The campaign of Rep. David Levin of St. Louis gave $250. U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Girardeau donated the maximum through her campaign, while two campaign committees controlled by Missouri House Minority Floor Leader Delbert Scott of Lowry City, Mo., both chipped in the maximum.

Scott's two committees also gave the legal limit to Myers, who listed 14 donations. All but one of those was for $200 or more, with half being for the limit.

Myers had spent $16,682.99 so far in the election and had $14,100.21 on hand. Robison had spent $16,442 and was left with $7,254 on hand. Myers raised $5,255 during the latest reporting period, while Robison took in $1,730.

Robison reported just four itemized donors, all for $200 or more, including two labor union contributions for the maximum.

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WHO GAVE WHAT TO WHOM?

Contributing to candidates for state House of Representatives in the 160th and 161st Districts for the reporting period of July 28 through Sept. 2. Listed are donor, city and amount:

160th District

Rep. Peter Myers, R-Sikeston

Blue Cross Blue Shield PAC, Kansas City, $275; Friends of Delbert Scott, Wheatland, $275; Scott for Speaker Committee, El Dorado Springs, $275; C.F. Eisenbach, Sikeston, $225; Claire Eisenbach, Sikeston, $225; Missouri Progress Committee, Jefferson City, $275; Brenda King, Sikeston, $275; Robert Scott Matthews, Sikeston, $250; Poultry Federation Missouri PAC, Little Rock, Ark., $250; Justus Kerssenbrock, Charleston, $200; Hurley and Associates, Charleston, $200; GTE Network, Jefferson City, $275; Tom Haltrip, Sikeston, $175; Don King Equipment, Sikeston, $275.

Fran Robinson, D-Sikeston

Cape Girardeau Central Trade, Cape Girardeau, $275; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Education Committee, Washington, D.C., $275; Keith Day, Sikeston, $250; Scott County Democratic Committee, Sikeston, $200.

161st District

Rep. Lanie Black, R-Charleston

Boyd Atteberry, Chesterfield, $150; Bruce Austin, Charleston, $100; Alberta Bishop, East Prairie, $100; C.W. Boyce, Sikeston, $50; Hutter Oil Co., Sikeston, $100; Dorothy Brink, Charleston, $100; Scott Brink, Charleston, $100; Tomas Swayne Byrd, Charleston, $100; Jim Clevenger, Charleston, $100; E.H.R. Enterprises, Wyatt, $100; Robert Edwards, Evergreen, Colo., $100; Marvin Fluegge, Charleston, $100; Jami Geske, Matthews, $100; Michael Geske, Matthews, $175; Dan Hall, Kewanee, $250; Linda Hall, Kewanee, $250; Mike Hall, Sikeston, $250; D.L. Hammorck, Morehouse, $100; Fran Harper, Charleston, $100; Dennis Hurley, Charleston, $225 (total of two donations); Ida Hurley, Charleston, $25; McIvan Jones, East Prairie, $275; Justus G.V. Kerssenbrock, Charleston, $200; Citizens to Elect David Levin, St. Louis, $250; Keith Mitchell, Kennett, $200; Caroline Morgan, Denver, Colo., $100; Ellen Owens, Charleston, $275; Layton Pickard, Charleston, $50; C. Ray Presson, Charleston, $100; Robert Riley, New Madrid, $150; Dan Rockett, League City, Texas, $100; John Rowling, Charleston, $100; Don Rone, Portageville, $75; Myra Rone, Portageville, $75; Myra Rone, Portageville, $200; Friends of Delbert Scott, Wheatland, $275; Scott for Speaker Committee, El Dorado Springs, $275; Lloyd Smith, Sikeston, $275; John D. Story, Charleston, $200; Richard Sutherland, Charleston, $100; Team Emerson, Cape Girardeau, $275; James Thurmond, Charleston, $200; David Tongate, Sikeston, $50; Charlotte York, Sikeston, $275; Randal York, Sikeston, $25; Jame Young, Charleston, $150; Louise Marshall, Charleston, $175.

Van Harry Sharp, D-New Madrid

John Bailey, Portageville, $50; Charles Baker, New Madrid, $100; Ralph Barnwell, New Madrid, $100; June Barton, Catron, $150; Scott Bell, East Prairie, $275; Jay Blankenship, Kewanee, $160 (total of two donations); Mona Bloomfield, New Madrid, $100; Riley Brock, New Madrid, $50; Don Brittain, New Madrid, $50; John Calvin, Sikeston, $100; Betty Commer, New Madrid, $50; Gene Curtis, Matthews, $200; John Davis, New Madrid, $50; Florence Davis, New Madrid, $50; Carlan Femmer, New Madrid, $50; Pat Gorham, Jackson, $75; Jimmy Henderson, New Madrid, $75; Bill Henry, New Madrid, $100; Shirla Howard, Dexter, $100; Jerry T. Howard, Dexter, $100; Hal Hunter Jr., New Madrid, $275; Hal E. Hunter IV, Sikeston, $100; Shannon Hunter, Kelso, $50; Walter Ivy, New Madrid, $100; Ken Murphy, Cape Girardeau, $50; Deborah Myracle, Portageville, $50; Bill Nance, Lilbourn, $100; New Madrid County Democratic Committee, $700; Nancy Pardon, Portageville, $100; Parsons and Wilson, Dexter, $275; John Pikey, Portageville; James Robinson, Lilbourn, $100; Elizabeth Rogers, Sikeston, $50; Howard Tillman, Portageville, $50; Mark Whitehead, New Madrid, $75; Aubra Wrather, Portageville, $100; Shawn Young, Portageville, $100; Van Sharp Jr., New Madrid, $275; Rebecca Sharp, New Madrid, $275; Cape Girardeau Labor Council, Cape Girardeau, $125; Phillips Commodity Company, $275.

Source: Candidate campaign finance disclosure reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission