Kinder leads in fundraising for Cape Girardeau mayor's race; primary next week

Stacy Kinder, who is challenging Cape Girardeau Mayor Bob Fox's bid for a second term in office, has outraised Fox and a third opponent so far, and has more cash on hand, according to a financial disclosure report filed last month with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Bob Fox

Kinder, Fox and Ramona Bailey square off Feb. 8 in the city's primary election — a race required when more than two people seek the same seat.

Ramona Bailey

The top two finishers in the primary will go on to face one another in the April 5 general municipal election.

Kinder, the current Ward 6 councilwoman, raised $22,000 from 26 donors from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, and received a $2,500 loan.

Her expenditures total $11,525.35, leaving her with a cash on hand — as of the Jan. 4 filing date — of $12,974.65.

Kinder's individual donations ranged from $100 to $5,000.

Michael Young is listed in the Ethics Commission filing as Kinder's treasurer.

• Fox, who succeeded Harry Rediger in the mayor's office in 2018, raised $9,750 from 24 donors from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, and lists no indebtedness and no expenses.

His cash on hand — as of a Jan. 14 filing — was $11,722.88.

Fox's individual donations ranged from $100 to $2,500.

Janet Esicar is listed in the Ethics Commission filing as Fox's treasurer, with current Ward 4 councilman and mayor pro tempore Robbie Guard as deputy treasurer.

• Bailey, whose report, covering the period Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, lists Ron North as treasurer and Felice Patton as campaign manager.

It did not contain information on fundraising to-date, indebtedness, expenditures or cash on hand as of her Jan. 14 filing.

Ward 2

The other contested race in next week's primary election in Cape Girardeau is in the city's Ward 2, currently represented by Shelly Moore — who is term-limited and cannot run again.

Six candidates have filed their candidacy petitions: Tameka Randle, Marvin McBride Jr., Sommer S. McCauley, Steve Watkins, Stafford Moore Jr. and Michael "Crank" Curry.

Only Randle filed a report with the Ethics Commission as of Jan. 31.

Randle raised $9,700 from 47 donors from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 and lists no indebtedness and $1,688.95 in expenses. She also reports $1,450 as in-kind donations. Her cash on hand position, according to her Jan. 12 filing, is $8,011.05. Willie Redmond is Randle's treasurer.

The Missouri Constitution does not provide contribution limits for candidates for local elections, but some local municipalities have enacted restrictions, according to the Ethics Commission.