Area candidates disclose finances

One of the most expensive area races on the Aug. 3 primary ballot is the Republican contest in Perry County that pits challenger Jason Tilley against incumbent Associate Circuit Judge Michael Bullerdieck.

Tilley, the brother of Missouri House Majority Leader Steve Tilley, has raised $33,812 for his effort to unseat Bullerdieck, who has held the post since 1987. During the most recent reporting period, which ran from April 1 to June 30, Tilley raised only $1,750 but had enough on hand to spend almost $7,000 with Victory Enterprises, an Iowa firm that works with many Missouri Republicans on their campaigns. Tilley also spent almost $9,300 on signs and other campaign materials. He had $6,811 left July 1.

Bullerdieck, meanwhile, lent his own campaign $4,927 and did not receive any campaign contributions. He spent $4,276, most of it on signs, direct mail and newspaper ads.

The winner will face attorney Craig Brewer, who is running unopposed on the Democratic ticket. Brewer raised $700 in the second quarter of the year and lent his own campaign $3,000, bringing his total fundraising for the contest to $5,729. Brewer spent $4,238 on his campaign, including $2,675 on yard signs.

Candidates for nomination in August were required last week to report their finances for the second quarter of the year. Candidates who did not form campaign committees or who have not raised or spent more than $1,000 are not required to report.

Other area contests:

n Perry County presiding commissioner: Incumbent Republican Carl Lueckel received $725 in contributions, includidng $475 from the Republican Leadership Campaign Committee, and lent his own campaign $2,160 as he seeks to fend off challenger Rick Schemel. Lueckel spent $2,404, most of it on signs and other campaign materials.

Schemel, meanwhile, raised no new money during the quarter but used his earlier receipts, totalling $5,485, to purchase advertising and campaign paraphernalia. He had $3,335 on hand as of July 1.

The winner faces Stanley Grantham in November. Grantham, a Democrat, has not formed a campaign committee and did not report any spending, Perry County Clerk Randy Taylor said.

n Perry County treasurer: Both incumbent Veronica Hershey and challenger Brian Brickhaus are funding their campaigns for the Republican nomination out of their own pockets. Hershey and her husband have loaned her campaign $2,550 and she has received $144.07 in cash contributions and $271 of in-kind donations. Her biggest expense has been yard signs.

Brickhaus loaned his campaign $4,000 and received a single donation of $250 from Charles and Alice Besand. His biggest expense has been $3,119.55 on yard signs and other campaign materials.

There is no Democratic candidate in the race, so the winner of the Republican nomination will be formally elected in November.

n Scott County prosecuting attorney: Incumbent Democrat Paul Boyd is fueling his re-election campaign with an $8,000 loan from his mother-in-law, Dorothy Kastens of Hayden, Idaho, and $2,875 in cash contributions that include $1,000 from the SEMO Building Trades union and $500 from Randy York of Sikeston, Mo.

Boyd's largest expenses have been signs and shirts.

Boyd is trying to fend off a challenge from former prosecutor Cristy Baker-Neel in the Democratic primary. Baker-Neel's disclosure report was not available Friday. It was due Thursday, but could be postmarked that date, said Rita Milam, Scott County clerk.

There are two area legislative contests without primaries but with challengers taking on incumbents.

In the 161st District Missouri House race, state Rep. Steve Hodges, D-East Prairie, is being challenged by former Scott County Commissioner Ron McCormick. The district includes Mississippi County and portions of Scott, New Madrid and Stoddard counties.

Hodges, who is seeking his third term, raised $8,875 during the quarter, bringing his total for the campaign to $32,592. Hodges had $12,445 in the bank as of July 1.

McCormick, a Republican who lost a bid for a full term as commissioner after being appointed by then-Gov. Matt Blunt to fill an unexpired term, out-raised Hodges during the second quarter. McCormick took in $12,728 including $229 worth of donated services or goods, bringing his total for the campaign to $26,482. He has loaned his own campaign $10,000 and has $14,392 in the bank.

In the 159th District, incumbent state Rep. Billy Pat Wright raised $15,570, including $2,050 from fellow Republican lawmakers, and former U.S. Rep. Bill Burlison added $10,000 from his own funds to his campaign account.

Wright, R-Dexter, is seeking his fourth and final term in the Missouri House. Wright reported spending $12,175 during the quarter and having $20,004 on hand as of July 1.

Burlison, a Democrat who represented Southeast Missouri in the U.S. House from 1969 to 1981, is making his second bid for the 159th District seat, which covers most of Stoddard County and southwestern Cape Girardeau County. With the new $10,000 loan to his campaign, Burlison has put a total of $35,200 into the race. Burlison reported spending $10,481 on the campaign and having $9,788 in the bank as of July 1.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent addresses:

Perryville, MO

East Prairie, MO

Benton, MO