State representative candidates report their finances ahead of Feb. 5 election

See campaign finance reports

Steve Kinder

Former state representative Mary Kasten raised money at more than twice the pace of Mike Keefe as they sought to build campaign warchests for the push to the Feb. 5 special election in the 158th District.

Kasten, a Republican, took in $38,760 during the three months ending Dec. 31, while Keefe, a Democrat, gathered $14,128. Kasten also reported $850 in contributions of services, what are called in-kind donations, while Keefe received $59 in that form of help.

The third candidate in the race, Libertarian Party nominee Steve Kinder, has filed paperwork indicating he does not intend to raise or spend any significant amounts for the election.

"I think we are doing pretty well," Kasten said Tuesday after the reports detailing her finances were filed at the Missouri Ethics Commission. "We'll know on the fifth of February."

Keefe, too, said he feels his fund-raising effort has been sound. "I feel pretty good about it for a person who has never been in politics before and never raised money before."

Mary Kasten spoke Thursday night (Fred Lynch)

Kasten reported spending $15,589 so far on her campaign and had $27,340 on hand. Keefe reported spending $4,931 during the three-month period and $5,482 in total so far, leaving him with $15,379 for the final five weeks of the campaign.

Kasten, Keefe and Kinder are competing to replace former state representative Nathan Cooper, a Republican who resigned Aug. 14 after pleading guilty in federal court to two counts of immigration fraud. Cooper is scheduled to begin serving a 15-month prison term Jan. 24.

The winner will represent a district that includes most of Cape Girardeau and a small portion of unincorporated territory. Republicans have held the district since Kasten won her first race for the Missouri House in 1982. She declined to run for re-election in 2000 when her husband became terminally ill.

The fund-raising reports show that Kasten has raised most of her money from people who live in or near the district. The exceptions were two $325 donations, one from the lobbying firm of John Bardgett and Associates and the other from the Missouri Medical political action committee.

Kasten also received $1,900 from committees connected with current lawmakers, but they all represent districts from Souheast Missouri.

Mike Keefe

Keefe's report showed a mix of contributions from the district and beyond, including several contributions from family members scattered around the country. He also received $2,050 from other Democrats serving in the legislature and $4,050 from labor union funds. Several contributions from outside the region noted that the donor worked for the U.S. Postal Service. Keefe was postmaster in Cape Girardeau for about 20 years.

One donor, Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson, contributed to both candidates. Knudtson's political fund donated $325 to Kasten and $50 to Keefe.

Knudtson has appeared in print ads on Kasten's behalf; he appointed Keefe to the city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

The next round of reports is due late this month. Keefe said he doesn't expect to match Kasten, but has been working intently on a door-to-door campaign to introduce himself to voters. "If we do it right and I keep walking door-to-door and listening to people, we will have a successful campaign."

Making calls to ask for donations has been a trying experience, Keefe said. "But I think it is something you have to do if you are going to be in politics. You have to have money to print ads. Do I like it? No. But it is something you have to do if you want to run."

Kasten said she has made some calls seeking donations, but that much of the work has been done by a group of volunteers who joined her campaign when she stepped out of retirement to be the nominee. GOP leaders were unsure of where to turn for a candidate before Kasten stepped forward, discovering late that a favored nominee didn't have the qualifications as a registered voter to serve.

"I have made quite a few calls, and we've gotten some good responses," Kasten said. "We also sent out some mailings and gotten money from people who responded to that."

As for Knudtson's contributions to both sides, Kasten said she wasn't bothered. "He and I are friends. It is his prerogative to give to whoever he wishes."

rkeller@semissourian.com

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