The latest filings with the Missouri Ethics Commission (MEC) reveal active campaign spending in the primary races for local and state offices.
For the Aug. 2 primary election, MEC filing dates for campaign finance disclosure were Sept. 2, candidates must file 30 days after the election, which was Sept. 2. The MEC requires candidates disclose and file those donating to the campaign and expenditures.
Campaign finance disclosure is required when individuals, groups, and entities receive contributions (monetary or in-kind) and/or make expenditures (paid or incurred) to support or oppose candidates or ballot measures, according to the MEC. The law requires record-keeping and reporting of these activities, even if a candidate’s own money is used.
If a candidate receives over $500 in contributions from others or spends over $1,000 of their own money, they must form a committee and file reports to the MEC. Any candidate not reporting can face fines and criminal charges.
District 16
• Incumbent Senator Justin Brown leads spending in the District 16 race.
A Sept. 2 filing with the ethics commission filed by Brown’s team lists $226,155.64 in total expenditures this election, including $72,402.94 spent this period and $153,752.70 previous to this period. Brown’s committee has raised $175,364 this election with $24,578.30 cash on hand at close of reporting period and no indebtedness. Browns largest contributor this period were Rich Aubuchon Law Firm LLC, Charter Communications Inc MO PAC, SCOPE PAC, Missourians for a Responsible Budget PAC, MO Asphalt and Paving Association PAC, which each contributed $2,400. Also of note was a $1,500 donation from Missouri Amusement Machine Operators LLC and a $500 donation from MO Gaming PAC.
Browns largest expenses this period included $25,000 on campaign workers, $17,250 on canvassers, $12,305 on radio advertisements, more than $5,000 divided between two different strategic planning firms and more than $4,500 on 4H Livestock donations.
• Suzie Pollock, Brown’s opposition for District 16: A Sept. 1 filing with the ethics commission filed by Pollock’s Friends of Suzie Pollock committee lists $68,830.02 in total expenditures this election, including $10,514.16 spent this period and $58,315.86 previous to this period. Pollock’s committee raised $5,000, all of which was raised prior to this reporting period. Pollock ended with a total indebtedness of $5,792.19 at the close of this reporting period. Pollock’s expenses this period were mostly various ads, a door knocking app and mailers.
• Democratic candidate Tara Anura has spent a total of $1,371.08 this election, $696.84 of which was spent this period. Anura’s ‘Committee to Elect Tara Anura’ raised a total of $1,844.89, of which $609.74 was raised this period. Anura ended the reporting period with $473.81 cash on hand and no debt.
The largest contribution to Anura’s campaign was $100 from Missouri Womens Leadership Coalition PAC.
District 122
• Democrat Lisa M. McCarthy leads spending among candidates for the District 122 seat in the Missouri House of Representatives. An Aug. 30 ethics report from her ‘Committee to Elect Lisa McCarthy’ shows $ 5,637.93 spent this election, including $63.95 this period and $5,573.98 previous to this period. McCarthy’s committee has raised $14,025.07 this election with $5,894.86 cash on hand at close of reporting period and campaign indebtedness of $30.72. The bulk of contributions to McCarthy’s campaign this period were from individuals with the exception of a $70 contribution from Missouri Women's Political Caucus.
• Tara Peters leads spending among Republicans for the District 122 seat. An Aug. 2 Ethics report from her “We the People for Tara J. Peters” committee shows $9,638.74 in total expenditures this election including $3,674.47 this period and $5,964.27 previous to this period. Peters’ committee has raised $ 9,683.76 this election with $45.02 cash on hand at close of reporting period and $6,083.76 of campaign indebtedness. The largest contribution to Peters’ campaign this period was $2,000 from Missouri Realtors PAC.
• An Aug. 26 ethics report for Randy K. Barr’s “Committee to Elect Randy Barr, State Representative” submitted a certificate of limited activity for the current period. As of 8 days prior to the election, Barr’s campaign showed $3,161.45 in total expenditures this election including $800 spent that period and $2,361.45 previous to that period. Barr’s committee has raised $3,399.20 this election with $237.75 cash on hand at close of reporting period and $2,490.95 of campaign indebtedness.
District 143
• Incumbent State Rep. Bennie Cook leads spending in the District 143 race. His Bennie Cook for State Representative committee shows $26,444.99 in total expenditures this election including $13,032.67 this period and $13,412.32 previous to this period. Cook’s committee has raised $29,756.95 this election with $12,703.18 cash on hand at close of reporting period and $578.41 of campaign indebtedness. The largest contribution made to Cook’s campaign this reporting period was $500 from Quality Housing Political Action Committee. Cook’s largest expense this reporting period was $4,898.25 as event donation at the Texas County Fair. Also of note was a $1,300 event donation that Cook’s campaign made to the House Republican Campaign Committee on Aug. 13.
• Philip Lohmann terminated his campaign, according to an Aug. 5 report to the ethics commission. Christopher Davis terminated his campaign, according to an Aug. 22 report submitted to the ethics commission. Both Lohmann and Davis had, during the previous report period, each submitted a Statement of Limited Activity with no fundraising and spending details.
• Democrat Bernadette Holzer’s “Holzer for Missouri” does not have a campaign report for 30 days after the primary election posted on the Missouri Ethics Commission website. However, a July 21 Ethics report submitted by Democrat Bernadette Holzer’s “Holzer for Missouri” committee shows $1,129 in total expenditures this election. Holzer’s committee has raised $1,338 this election with $9 cash on hand at close of reporting period and no campaign indebtedness.
District 120
• Incumbent District 120 State Rep. Ron Copeland, according to an Aug. 31 filing with the Ethics Commission filed by Copeland’s team Citizens for Ron Copeland, lists Copeland’s total expenditures this election at $59,646.95, including $3,505.33 spent this period and $56,141.62 spent previous to this period. Copeland’s committee has raised $84,663. 09 with $17,128.75 cash on hand at close of reporting period and no indebtedness.
• Republican Matthew Williams is Copeland’s only challenger. Williams’ committee Elect Matthew S. Williams submitted a Statement of Limited Activity with no fundraising and spending details.
Dent County Presiding Commissioner
• According to an Aug. 2 filing by Republican challenger Craig Smith’s team ‘Committee to Elect Craig Smith Presiding Commissioner’, Smith’s total expenditures as of 8 days prior to the primary are $2,160.44 this election. Smith has raised $2,340 with $179.56 cash on hand at close of reporting period and no indebtedness. There is not report for 30 days after the primary posted on the MEC website.
• Incumbent presiding commissioner Darrell Skiles and candidate Travis Fulton do not have committees listed on the MEC website due to limited spending.
Dent County Circuit Clerk
• Dent County Circuit Clerk candidate Kristi Craig had total expenditures of $5,114.08 this election, raised $5,289.00, and had $174.92 money on hand at close of reporting period with no indebtedness.
• Craig’s opposition, as of a July 25 report, Lisa Blackwell had $6,040.76 in total expenditures, $12,688 in total receipts and $3,234.24 cash on hand at close of reporting period and $5,300 total indebtedness.
