Lawmaker to oversee Blunt's campaign

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Republican state Rep. Mark Wright has been hired to run the U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt's main political campaign committee.

Wright, of Springfield, is replacing Tom Carter as head of the Friends of Roy Blunt committee.

The reorganization was necessitated by last year's federal campaign finance changes passed in part to eliminate soft-money influences from campaigns.

Carter's job had involved raising money for Blunt's campaign as well as raising so-called "soft money" for local and state political groups Blunt supported, a practice the new law intends to crack down upon.

With Wright's hiring, the executive director job for Blunt's campaign will become a part-time position handling administrative duties.

Wright, 34, is currently the assistant floor leader in the Missouri House, where Republicans this year held their first majority since 1954.

His salary as a state lawmaker was $31,351 last year. His part-time post with Blunt's committee will pay about $21,300.

"It's a different day with all these new finance laws, and that's why they're bringing me on," Wright said.

Blunt raised $6 million for 2002 campaigns and also led a national Republican Party effort that raised an additional $24 million.

The Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Republican state Rep. Mark Wright has been hired to run the U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt's main political campaign committee.

Wright, of Springfield, is replacing Tom Carter as head of the Friends of Roy Blunt committee.

The reorganization was necessitated by last year's federal campaign finance changes passed in part to eliminate soft-money influences from campaigns.

Carter's job had involved raising money for Blunt's campaign as well as raising so-called "soft money" for local and state political groups Blunt supported, a practice the new law intends to crack down upon.

With Wright's hiring, the executive director job for Blunt's campaign will become a part-time position handling administrative duties.

Wright, 34, is currently the assistant floor leader in the Missouri House, where Republicans this year held their first majority since 1954.

His salary as a state lawmaker was $31,351 last year. His part-time post with Blunt's committee will pay about $21,300.

"It's a different day with all these new finance laws, and that's why they're bringing me on," Wright said.

Blunt raised $6 million for 2002 campaigns and also led a national Republican Party effort that raised an additional $24 million.