Presiding commissioner candidates file finance reports

Campaign finance reports -- and the lack of reports -- from some of the candidates for Cape Girardeau County presiding commissioner show that the crowded field is starting slow on raising money for the Aug. 2 primary.

Of the six Republicans and two Democrats seeking nomination, two had filed disclosure reports as of Thursday, the first reporting date since filing ended March 30. The reports covered money raised since Jan. 1. Three more candidates have organized committees, and the other three have not yet set up a fundraising arm for their campaign.

All are seeing to replace Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones, a Republican who is stepping down after 16 years in office.

Clint Tracy

Associate Commissioner Jay Purcell didn't report any contributions to his campaign for the top job. But he did close the books on his 2008 campaign after raising $5,750, which he paid to himself to retire debt from that effort.

State Rep. Clint Tracy and Charles Brawley, a former member of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department, filed reports on their efforts. Both are Republicans.

Republicans Doyle Parmer, town clerk for Dutchtown, and Stephen Daume, a farmer from Daisy, have organized committees but had not filed their reports as of 6 p.m. Thursday. Republican Chris Hutson, a financial adviser for Edward Jones, and Democrats Brian Thomas, a business owner from Gordonville, and Pat Wissman, who unsuccessfully ran for commissioner in 2008, have not organized committees.

Jay Purcell

The winners of both August primaries will face off in the November general election.

In mid-March, Purcell received a $5,000 contribution from Southeast Missouri Building Traders Council and $750 from T. Robin Cole III. The committee then wrote Purcell a check for $5,762.59, the full bank balance, and Purcell wrote off $3,797.41 in other debt.

Purcell said he felt it was important to end his old committee with no debt before moving forward. Purcell officially formed his committee Wednesday and plans to start fundraising efforts soon.

Pat Wissman

Cole said he knew Purcell would retire debt when he wrote out his check.

"I was as surprised as anyone when Jay announced his candidacy" for presiding commissioner, Cole said. "He had a residual campaign debt in March from his prior campaign, and I felt it was in the interest of good government, that helping him repay that campaign debt was a worthy thing for me to use that money to do."

Cole said the check does not mean he will endorse Purcell in the primary campaign.

"I think Jay is a great candidate and I think Clint is a great candidate, and there are other great candidates, and I will make up my mind who I am going to support," Cole said.

Tracy took in $900 during the first three months of his campaign, adding it to $7,888.24 already in his account. That money was raised from when he expected to run for re-election to the House. His donations were from the Missouri Association of Municipal Utilities for $150, Keith Holloway of Cape Girardeau for $250 and Missouri Forest Products Political Action Committee for $500. He has spent $82, leaving him with $8,706.24 on hand.

Tracy said that he'll turn his full attention to the race once the legislative session in Jefferson City, Mo., is over in mid-May.

"It's hard to wear two hats," Tracy said. "I want to finish up strong so I can focus on the presiding commissioner race."

Like Purcell, Parmer has yet to do any fundraising, though he has used some of his own funds to pay for signage placed throughout the county. He plans to start fundraising efforts in May.

"The strategy to fundraising is to campaign at the same time," Parmer said. "You don't want your platform out too soon but want to have the right timing so people will remember you closer to the election date."

Daume, who has raised around $2,000, said his committee is meeting this week to plan fundraisers. His and Parmer's campaign finance reports were not filed by Thursday afternoon.

"I feel like support is going to come in soon," Daume said. "I feel like I can raise money and win based on my fresh ideas and expertise in business."

For his part, Brawley has taken in $1,645, including $200 from Carl Eakins of Cape Girardeau and $1,395 of his own money. He has spent $1,395, leaving him with $250 in the bank.

Brawley expects to finance his campaign nearly all by himself.

"That way no one will come to me asking for favors," Brawley said. "I don't like to get into big, big fundraisers, but like to just go on my own and finance my own campaign."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

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