Southeast Missouri Republicans outpace opponents in fundraising

Most area Republican legislative candidates were able to easily outpace their Nov. 4 election rivals in the latest round of fund-raising reports, which were due Wednesday at the Missouri Ethics Commission.

The exceptions were Shelley Keeney, who hopes to succeed her boss, House Speaker Rod Jetton, in the 156th District and Rep. Scott Lipke, R-Jackson, who raised no money during the September period covered by the reports.

Keeney, a Marble Hill Republican, took in $11,809 during the month, bringing her total for the race to $50,704. Her opponent, Michael Winder of Marquand, raised $16,556, bringing his total to $42,367. Winder is making his second bid for the 156th District seat, which covers Bollinger, Madison and most of Wayne counties.

Lipke, who reported having $15,719 on hand, reported spending only $253 during the month to defend his 157th District seat against Jennifer Friedrich of St. Mary, the nominee of Constitution Party. Friedrich has not reported raising any money.

The Republican raising the smallest amount during the period is Clint Tracy of Cape Girardeau, who won a hotly contested three-way primary in the 158th District. Tracy, who faces only Libertarian Robert Roland of Cape Girardeau in the Nov. 4 election, reported raising $3,750 in September and repaying a $5,000 loan he made to his campaign during the primary season. Tracy reported $1,487 on hand.

In the 159th District race, which pits former U.S. Rep. Bill Burlison, a Democrat, against two-term incumbent Rep. Billy Pat Wright of Dexter on the Republican side, both candidates reported adding more than $20,000 each to their campaign treasuries. But Burlison provided the bulk of his new funds, lending his campaign $19,000 and bringing his total personal loans to the campaign to $34,100. Burlison reported raising $2,090 from contributors.

Wright, meanwhile, took in $26,265 in contributions during the month and raised his total for the race to $82,679. Burlison had $7,181 available on Oct. 1 for the push to election day, while Wright reported a bank balance of $50,288.

In the other area legislative contest, Republican incumbent state Sen. Jason Crowell reported taking in $34,120 from contributors during the period. After accounting for $21,068 in campaign spending and $2,325 in donations to other Republicans, Crowell had $95,626 on hand. Crowell's opponent, Democratic nominee Linda Sanders of Jackson, reported raising $5,130 in a report that covered the period from July 1 to Sept. 30. She had $3,782 left after expenses.

For more information, check back at semissourian.com or read Thursday's Southeast Missourian.