State rep candidates give financial reports

Editor's note: This story is part of a series on money collected by candidates in Southeast Missouri running for the General Assembly.

By Marc Powers ~ Southeast Missourian

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Political donors gave Democrat Brent Robinson more than double the amount they contributed to Republican Otto Bean Jr. in the campaign for the 163rd District seat in the House of Representatives, finance disclosure reports show.

Robinson, of Kennett, raised $2,700 from April 1 through June 30, the period covered by the reports. Supporters gave Bean, of Holcomb, $1,348. However, Bean added $2,000 of his own money, meaning his campaign actually collected about $500 more than Robinison's during reporting period.

Curtis Steward of Campbell, Bean's opponent in the Aug. 6 Republican primary, filed a statement with the Missouri Ethics Commission saying that he collected less than $500. Robinson is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Robinison had two donations from political action committees -- $250 from the Missouri School Alliance in Jefferson City and $300 from Dedicated Americans for the Senate and House of Washington, D.C. Half of the 12 itemized contributions to Robinson were for the maximum amount of $300 for a House race. He spent $191.76, leaving him with $2,508.24 in the bank.

Three of Bean's four itemized donations were for the maximum, including one from state Rep. Rob Mayer, R-Dexter. Bean spent $1,520.82 and had $1,827.18 on hand.

The 163rd District represents parts of Butler, Dunklin and Stoddard counties. Incumbent state Rep. Phil Britt, D-Kennett, is stepping down from the seat in January after two terms.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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