Keefe, Kasten report fundraising for special election

The two major party candidates running in the Feb. 5 special election to fill Cape Girardeau's vacant Missouri House seat reported similar totals Monday for the first round of fundraising.

Mike Keefe, the Democratic nominee and former Cape Girardeau 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. 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.

Keefe reported spending $392 so far, mostly on postage. Kasten reported no spending.

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