Monday July 28, 2014
Lots of checks in the large contributions today. Late money into the next week’s election is driving the number of checks, but there’s also this…
Claire Event
On Friday night, the Democratic State Party had a fundraiser at Senator Claire McCaskill’s house. McCaskill pledged to match – from her personal money – every dollar raised at the event. The results can be seen in the large contributions (below)… a $240K from McCaskill to the party. It’s said that every Dem representative who’s unopposed brought a check, and there were several other big checks. The total raised appears to have been nearly a half-million dollars.
As a reminder: Dems shut down their House and Senate campaign committee and are raising money for legislative race through the Party apparatus.
In her remarks, McCaskill equated the Republican extremism currently in the legislature to… Todd Akin.
Attorney General Chris Koster and State Treasurer Clint Zweifel were in attendance. As were Sens. Joe Keaveny and Scott Sifton and several House members from across the state: Minority Leader Jake Hummel, Vicki Englund, Mike Colona, Michele Kratky, Bill Otto, Jay Swearingen, Jeremy LaFaver, Jon Carpenter, Michael Butler, John Wright, and Sue Meredith.
Former Congressman Russ Carnahan was there. He has been at several events lately, which has been raising questions about another possible run… Lieutenant governor has been mentioned.
Rex for Chrismer
Also in the large contributions below, Rex Sinquefield sent $25K to Rich Chrismer running for St. Charles Elections Director. Post-Dispatch reports on the race. See it here.
Pull Quote: [A]t issue is a recent report by the county’s auditor and finance director alleging that he overcharged local governments and the county a total of $821,239 for election costs since 2008… Chrismer says he mistakenly got the $113,000 in grants and acknowledges that his office also may owe some money to local governments… Chrismer’s opponents also noted that six employees — five who no longer work in the office — have sued Chrismer and the county since 2011. The court fight began when Mary Railean Benefield, who now works for a different county office, filed a sexual harassment suit against Chrismer. Others later joined as plaintiffs…
This is the second big Sinquefield check that’s been directed to Chrismer. It’s an odd race for the chess-master to care about. It’s hard to imagine Chrismer with any potential for higher office.
Wallace to Board of Ed
Governor Jay Nixon appointed former state representative Maynard Wallace to the State Board of Education. Wallace was most recently a lobbyist for the Missouri Association of School Administrators.
There was some gnashing of teeth over Nixon picking an active lobbyist, and Wallace quickly deregistered. Reformers were among the outraged, as they’ve been on opposite sides of the administrators in various battles over the years.
And
Katie Casas, lobbyist for the educational reform group Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri, sent tweets complaining about the fact that the State Board would have five men and no women. See her twitterfeed here.
Some of her tweets were quickly “retweeted” by Sens. Maria Chappelle-Nadal and Jamilah Nasheed, indicating that Wallace might have trouble winning confirmation.
Running on the Last Name!
Jay Ashcroft’s first campaign mailer features pictures of him as a young boy… one with him rafting with his father, another with him on one of his dad’s election night, and then him meeting Republican luminaries like Ronald Reagan and George Bush (41), again as a young boy. It’s like his credentials as a future state senator are the people he met when he was eight years old.
Reaction from Republicans: Yea. Almost a little embarrassing. Even the Republicans in that district are serious voters. That piece doesn't say "take me seriously".
I actually don't mind him owning the Ashcroft name, pictures with he and his dad etc. He can't exactly run from it… He'll have the money and obviously the name ID. I happen to think he can win.
We are not idiots out here in Senate 24. I mean the only connection to the district is fucking Fredbird??? Give me a break.
Oh yeah, he’s pictured meeting Fredbird (as a boy) as well in the mailer…
Hicks to Dems: Vote for Me
It appears that Robb Hicks is doing robocalls targeted to Democratic voters in Senate 24, urging them to take a Republican ballot in August.
The message as transcribed by one recipient: “I am calling on behalf of my younger brother Robb Hicks. Although our two political parties don’t agree very often, I am sure we can agree that Missouri does not need another Ashcroft in Jeff City. Missouri Democrats can vote in the Republican primary. Ask for a Republican ballot and vote for Robb Hicks so that Democrat Jill Schupp will not have to face another Ashcroft in November. Feel free to call Robb…”
Meanwhile, Team Schupp says it’s encouraging voters to vote for Jill in August, not for one of the Republican candidates. The campaign has no preferred opponent in the general election.
Ad Watch
The Anti-Amendment 1 coalition, Missouri’s Food for America, released their first television ad. It makes China the bogeyman… “Amendment One. It’s not about Missouri’s right to farm. It’s about China’s right to farm in Missouri…” See it here.
In the St. Louis County Executive race, Republican Rep. Rick Stream releases his first radio ad. It’s a bio ad that starts with his father death… Listen to it here.
And… Rep. Stan Cox is running cable television ads in his bid for a judgeship. See it here. The ad was produced by what looks like his daughter’s company, Bittersweet Symphony Productions.
Loudon Update…
Former state senator John Loudon is in the news, well actually it’s his daughter… in the gossip columns. The Loudon children used to run the halls when the Senate was in session… Anyway the rumor is that she’s dating actor Steven Bauer (of Scarface fame). Read it here. In case you’re wondering, no, she’s not half his age. More like a third his age actually…
eMailbag: Lager to Herzog
Lobbyist: “Connect the dots, now you know why Brad Lager is working for Herzogs… Rep. Sam Graves May Lead House Highway & Transit Subcmte…”
Help Wanted
Office of Attorney General seeks Assistant Attorney General “in the Labor Division in its Jefferson City office. In addition to directly supervising four other attorneys and three support staff members, the attorney will primarily practice workers’ compensation defense for claims filed against the State of Missouri's Second Injury Fund and claims filed by state employees…”
Missouri Department of Revenue seeks Attorney “to represent the Department in income tax matters and at the Administrative Hearing Commission. This position is located in Jefferson City, Missouri. Starting salary is $43,043 plus full state benefits…” See the ad here.
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Gate Way Group website:
Maynard Wallace deleted Missouri Council of School Administrators, and Missouri Association of School Administrators.
$5K+ Contributions
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $10,000 from Express Scripts.
McCulloch for Prosecutor Committee - $10,000 from Reliant Care Management Co.
Schmitt for Missouri - $10,000 from Drury Development Corporation.
Missouri Farmers Care - $30,000 from Missouri Pork Association.
Missouri Farmers Care - $50,000 from Missouri Ag PAC.
Missouri Farmers Care - $40,000 from Missouri Corn Growers Association.
Missouri Farmers Care - $20,750 from Missouri Ag Services Inc.
United Parcel Service Inc PAC Missouri - $8,500 from United Parcel Service Political Action Committee.
Chrismer for Good Government - $25,000 from Rex Sinquefield.
Friends to Elect Duston Y Stone - $16,000 from Duston Stone.
Lewis & Clark Ozarks Mountain Forum - $25,000 from Positronic Industries.
Schmitt for Missouri - $10,000 from Roy Pfautch.
Dooley for St. Louis County - $50,000 from Rex Sinquefield.
Missouri Farmers Care - $10,000 from AgriBank.
Dr. Dan Brown for Senate - $26,000 from Realtors Political Action Committee MO.
Anne Zerr for State Representative - $10,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Committee to Elect Linda Klinerman for Judge -$23,534 from Kevin Klingerman.
The Good Government Committee - $6,000 from Missouri Leadership Fund.
Missouri’s Food for America - $25,000 from ASPCA.
MO Democratic State Committee - $10,000 from Robert Blitz.
MO Democratic State Committee - $25,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
MO Democratic State Committee - $10,000 from Davis, Ketchmark, McCreight & Ivers PC.
MO Democratic State Committee - $30,000 from Jake Hummel Campaign Fund.
MO Democratic State Committee - $10,000 from Clint Zweifel for Missouri.
MO Democratic State Committee - $10,000 from Rollins Capital Management LLC.
MO Democratic State Committee - $240,000 from Claire McCaskill.
Gibbs for Judge - $15,000 from Finley Gibbs.
Dempsey for Missouri - $10,000 from August Busch.
Dempsey for Missouri - $7,500 from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City PAC.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthday to Dale Ludwig.