Ritter tops all council candidates for funding

In terms of money spent, Cape Girardeau Ward 6 candidate Marcia Ritter has more on the line for the April 2 election than any other council hopeful.

Ritter's total expenditures came out to $3,573.75, more than three times the amount of any other council candidate and more money than all the other candidates combined, according to public campaign disclosure reports.

Ritter said she funded most of her campaign and did not seek donations, though she did receive some unsolicited contributions.

Walter Wildman, Ritter's opponent, spent $1,170, which was far less than Ritter but still much more than other candidates for council in other wards.

The other three candidates all spent about $500 or less.

Evelyn Boardman, running against incumbent Frank Stoffregen for Ward 1, spent $508.99.

Figures for Stoffregen were unavailable.

Stoffregen exercised his right to not form a campaign committee, so he was not required to turn in campaign disclosure reports. By not forming a committee, he must spend less than $500 on his campaign.

Ward 2 candidate Charlie Herbst formed a committee, but he did not submit reports to the county clerk's office.

Herbst told the Southeast Missourian that because of a miscommunication with his treasurer, he thought the forms had been faxed to the state ethics commission when in fact they hadn't.

He said he will file the forms with the county clerk today.

Herbst said he raised approximately $1,100 and spent about $400 on signs.

Herbst will replace Tom Neumeyer, who has reached his term limit. Ward 6 councilman Richard Eggimann also reached his term limit.

bmiller@semissourian.com

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