PARTIES ANTE UP IN BOOTHEEL RACE

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The two major state political parties are showing a high degree of interest in the Bootheel's 25th District state Senate race, pumping nearly $100,000 into the campaign.

So far, the Missouri Democratic Party has donated $50,000 to Sen. Jerry T. Howard of Dexter, Mo., for his reelection bid. The state Republican Party has given $49,000 to its candidate, Rep. Bill Foster of Poplar Bluff, Mo.

State Democratic Party Executive Director Roy Temple said he hasn't compared the party's contribution in this race to its expenditures in other Senate campaigns, but said the party is making "substantial investments" in other races.

"I can't really say if this is typical," Temple said. "It is a large contribution, but it is also an important race."

Daryl Duwe, communications director for the state Republican Party, said his party expects similar expenditures in only one other Senate race, in western Missouri.

"We probably would not be playing that large in any other races," Duwe said. "You play the biggest where you have a chance to win."

The Republican Party had given Foster $20,000 prior to the latest campaign finance reporting period, which covered July 28 through Sept. 2, and added another $29,000 in early August.

"State Senate races can really be expensive," Duwe said. "It's no secret we are strongly behind Bill Foster. It should be no surprise we are heavily involved in this race."

The Democratic Party canceled out the Republican contribution in late August with its lump $50,000 donation to Howard.

"Knowing the Republicans are going to be participating heavily in this race, we don't want to leave our candidate at a disadvantage, especially seeing some of the sleazy tactics we've seen down there already," Temple said.

Temple was referring to allegations of financial wrongdoing Duwe levied against Howard last week. The allegations, which Howard has denied, have been turned over to the Missouri Ethics Commission. Citing confidentiality rules, the commission has refused to say whether it is investigating the matter.

Both Duwe and Temple said their parties expect continued participation in the 25th District race, both financial and otherwise. Democrats currently hold a one-seat majority in the 34-member Senate.

According to the latest disclosure reports, the two veteran legislators had raised more than $380,000 combined while spending about $185,000.

Howard, who has held the seat since 1990, had been particularly active on the financial front, outraising and outspending Foster, by more than a two-to-one margin.

As of Sept. 2, Howard had taken in $270,612.99 while spending $132,174.09. He reported having $124,451.44 in cash on hand.

Foster had raised $111,471 while spending $52,835.91, leaving him with $58,635.09 in the bank -- about 47 percent of that in Howard's campaign warchest.

During the last reporting period, Howard received the maximum donation of $550 from 14 sources, while seven donors gave Foster the legal limit.

The maximum applies only to donations from individuals, businesses and political action committees. A federal appeals court recently struck down Missouri's caps on contributions from political parties as unconstitutional. The state is appealing the decision, but for now parties are unlimited in the amount of money they can give to candidates

Howard also received donations of $500 or more but under the limit from 16 contributors. Foster had seven such donations.

A large portion of Howard's financial support came from doctors and medical associations, attorneys and labor unions. Much of Foster's money came from business interests.

While both men received substantial contributions from outside of the 25th District, most of Foster's in-district donations came from Butler County.

Howard's local contributions were more widespread throughout the district, which also represents Dunklin, New Madrid, Stoddard and Wayne counties. Howard showed particularly strong financial support in the lower Bootheel, especially Dunklin County.

mppowers@socket.net

Who gave how much to whom?Sen. Jerry T. Howard, D-Dexter

William Owelmen, Kennett, $100; Doyle and Bonnie Privett, Kennett, $100; Mrs. Flake McHaney, Kennett, $100; Veryl L. Riddle, St. Louis, $450; Wendell L. Hoskins III, St. Louis, $550; Ar. Curtis Inc., Sikeston, $200; Diane Thompson, Kennett, $100; Dorothy Gibbons, Kennett, $100; Davis Minton, Dexter, $500; William McDonald, Springfield, $500; Albert Elfrank, Advance, $250; Paul Combs, Kennett, $100; Danny Wedding, St. Louis, $100; Elizabeth F. Grodsky, St. Louis, $100; Barry Aycock, Parma, $550; Charles B. Brown, Kennett, $100; J.D. and Nancy Faulkner, Kennett, $100; Elton Dalton, Senath, $100; Roy Gunter, Benton, $100; Alex and Eleanor Bartlett, Jefferson City, $150; Anne C. Ream, West Plains, $200; Thomas Lantsberger, St. Louis, $100; Broadway Music and Vending Inc., Caruthersville, $300; Missouri Eye Pac, Jefferson City, $550; Butler County Democratic Club, Poplar Bluff, $500; Dealers Interested in Government, Jefferson City, $550; Gas Workers Local 5-6 PAC, St. Louis, $300; Silver Dollar City BACPAC, Branson, $200; Health Care Concerns, Kansas City, $100; Richardson Wynette Motors Inc., Malden, $550; D.L. Hufford, Bloomfield, $500; Missouri State Chiropractors Association PAC, Jefferson City, $100; Jerry L. Reynolds Construction, Cape Girardeau, $100; Dalton Petroleum Inc., Hayti, $550; Rogers Vanausdall Jr. Farms, $100; Dixie Auto Auction, Malden, $100; Missouri National Association of Educators PAC, Jefferson City, $200; Missouri Community Pharmacy PAC, Jefferson City, $300; Missouri Pharmacy PAC, Jefferson City, $300; AMEC PAC, Jefferson City, $175; Missouri Democratic Senatorial Committee, Jefferson City, $550; J. Scott Marrs, Springfield, $171.50; Jerry Burch, Jefferson City, $171.49; Missouri Dental PAC, Jefferson City, $100; Redfearn and Brown, Kansas City, $500; Henry, Henry, Henry, Engelbrecht and Williams, West Plains, $500; C.H. Parson Jr., Dexter, $500; Bruer, Woddell, Oliver, and Bates, Springfield, $500; Thomas Lee Stewart Trust, St. Louis, $500; Kenner and James and Kavanaugh, Kansas City, $500; Southeast Missouri Building Trades Council, Cape Girardeau, $550 (total of two separate donations); Hershewe and Gulick, Joplin, $500; Missouri Association of Municipal Untilities, Columbia, $125; Sunshine Villa, Scott City, $200; Kennedy, Kennedy and Robbins, Poplar Bluff, $300; Harrah's Operating Co. Inc., Memphis, Tenn., $550; Electrical Workers Political Fund, St. Louis, $550; Hoisting Engineers Local 513, Bridgeton, $275; Accurso Law Firm, Kansas City, $500; Plumbers and Pipefitters Fund, St. Louis, $550; Committee for Professionalism in Teaching, Columbia $260; Amalgamated Transit Union, St. Louis, $500; Whitaker's Ace Hardware, Chaffee, $250; Flying Y Ranch, Fredericktown, $200; MR MGA PAC, Jefferson City, $300; Washington Growth Partners, Washington, $100; Jerry Ford Enterprises, Cape Girardeau, $225; Missouri Podiatry PAC, Manchester, $200; GST PAC, Kansas City, $250; Walton Investments, Kansas City, $250; Sifford Auction and Real Estate Co., Bloomfield, $150; Creative Design Group, Malden, $75; Missouri Time Sales Service, Jefferson City, $250; Committee to Elect Phillip Britt, Kennett, $500; Sampec, Jefferson City, $300; Community Mental Health Consultants Inc., Nevada, $300; MSCA PAC, Jefferson City, $550; Electrical Workers Fund, St. Louis, $550; Missouri Concrete Association PAC, Jefferson City, $200; Sprint of Missouri PAC, Jefferson City, $250; AMEC PAC, Jefferson City, $525; Democratic State Committee, Jefferson City, $50,000; Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield, St. Louis, $550; Missouri Council of School Administrators, Jefferson City, $250; Missouri School Alliance PAC, $500; Central Trades Labor Council, $125; J.D. Faulkner, Kennett, $100; Stephen P. Sokoloff, Kennett, $100; Cecil H. Varak Jr., Kennett, $100; Pres Semar, Kennett, $100; Jerry Hall, Kennett, $100; Janette Lohman, St. Louis, $100; Reggie Cunningham, Kennett, $100; Delip Kakaiya, Kennett, $100; James Burrow, Malden, $250.