Republicans out-raising Democrats for 2 seats

Democrats hoping to upset the Republican juggernaut that transformed Southeast Missouri's legislative delegation into a GOP bastion find themselves far behind in fund raising with just eight weeks until election day.

In two open seats stretching from southern Cape Girardeau County to the Bootheel, both won for the GOP in 1998 by fewer than 100 votes, the Democratic candidates face a cash advantage for Republicans of 10- and 20-to-1.

The closest race in terms of cash on-hand, according to reports filed last week with the Missouri Ethics Commission, is in the 159th District contest for Missouri House. That contest pits first-term incumbent state Rep. Billy Pat Wright, R-Dexter, against former Dexter High School football coach Boyce Wooley. The race is a rematch of the 2004 election, which Wright won by 1,600 votes on the strength of Republican turnout in Cape Girardeau County.

Even in the 159th District, Wright has more than twice the available cash as Wooley.

The five contested districts currently in Republican hands cover a region where Democrats dominate at the county government level. In four of the eight counties in those districts, Republicans have no county officeholders.

Republicans hold a 95 to 66 advantage in the 163-seat Missouri House, with two vacant seats. Holding onto that edge, which gave the GOP control of the House in 2002 for the first time since the 1950s, is viewed as a district-by-district battle, said Dave Hageman, executive director of the House Republican Campaign Committee.

"We are feeling really good," Hageman said. "We have a good class of candidates."

Democrats know they won't regain control of the House in a single election, state Democratic Party spokesman Jack Cardetti said. "The Democrats didn't lose the House and Senate overnight, and we are not going to regain it overnight. But we are starting to take it back and that begins this election year."

Like their candidates locally, however, the Democratic committee dedicated to helping win House seats is also far behind its Republican rival in fund-raising. The House Democratic Campaign Committee had $102,000 on hand as of Sept. 2, while the House Republican Campaign Committee had just more than $1 million in the bank.

The money will be used mainly for independent spending in districts where GOP candidates need some extra help, Hageman said. "We promote individual candidates based on issues," he said.

The Republican-held districts in Southeast Missouri and the relative financial strength of each candidate, include:

* The 156th District, which includes Bollinger, Madison and most of Wayne counties. House Speaker Rod Jetton of Marble Hill had $41,774 on hand against challenger Michael Winder, who had $3,593 in the bank. Jetton is seeking his fourth and last term in the House.

* The 158th District, which covers most of the city of Cape Girardeau. First-term incumbent Rep. Nathan Cooper had $33,109 on hand, compared to $3,457 for attorney Matt Hill.

* The 159th District, which includes most of Stoddard and southwest Cape Girardeau counties. Wright had $18,785 in the bank versus $8,116 for Wooley.

* The 160th District, which covers western Scott County, including Sikeston, and small portions of Cape Girardeau, Mississippi and New Madrid counties. Republican Ellen Brandom had $33,178 on hand compared to $3,124 on hand for Democrat Larry Tetley in the race to replace Rep. Peter Myers Sr., R-Sikeston.

* The 161st District, which covers eastern Scott County, including Scott City and Benton, and portions of Cape Girardeau, Mississippi, New Madrid and Stoddard counties. Republican Gary Branum has $34,301 on hand versus $1,775 for Democrat Steve Hodges in the contest to replace Rep. Lanie Black III, R-Charleston.

Themes that have worked in the past will be the rallying points for Republicans again this year, Hageman said. Opposition to abortion, support for gun rights and keeping taxes low give Republicans a consistent message, he said.

Republican success locally and statewide, Hageman said, has been built on finding candidates who are well-known and fit their districts. "We ask them about the issues, we don't ask if they have been a Republican all their lives. We ask what is your philosophy and does it match the voters in the district. And we've got candidates who's values match the voters."

Democratic candidate Hodges, seeking the 160th District seat, said voters can find conservative values on the Democratic side of the ballot as well. He said he's pro-life, a firm believer in Second Amendment rights and will be conservative with taxpayer dollars.

And while he's behind in campaign dollars, Hodge said he senses a voter rebellion against incumbents. "The response I am getting, from a number of people, is, 'whoever is there, we are getting rid of them.'"

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126

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Major contributors in the 161st District Missouri House race

Steve Hodges, Democrat:

Eastern Missouri Laborers' Educational and Benevolent Fund, Bridgeton, Mo., $325; Missouri Land Title PAC, Jefferson City, Mo., $200; Missouri Rental Dealers Association PAC, Jefferson City, $250; Local No. 124 Voluntary Political Fund, Kansas City, Mo., $325; Citizens for Jake Zimmerman, St. Louis, Mo., $325; Committee to elect Trent Skaggs, North Kansas City, Mo., $325; Margaret Donnelly for State Rep., St. Louis, Mo., $325; Sheet Metal Workers Local 36; $325; Gary Williford Jr., East Prairie, Mo., $200; Missouri AFL-CIO COPE, Jefferson City, Mo., $325; Barry Aycock, Parma, Mo., $325; Adequate Holdings LLC, Nantucket, Mass., $325.

Gary Branum, Republican:

Elizabeth Branum, New Madrid, Mo., $325; Steve Lancaster, Lilbourn, Mo., $200; John Clifton, Cape Girardeau, $100; Goldia Goodman, Kennett, Mo., $100; Robert W. Byrd, Matthews, Mo., $100; Michael D. Geske, Matthews, Mo., $250; John M. Bixler, Matthews, Mo., $100; Town and Country Beauty Salon, New Madrid, Mo., $168; John Westcoat Farms, New Madrid, Mo., $100; Wayne Parker, Sikeston, Mo., $250; Wade Parker, Sikeston, $250; Steve H. Riley, New Madrid, $150; T. Pattaropong, New Madrid, Mo., $100; Robert J. Sorrells, East Prairie, Mo., $200; John M. Farris, Memphis, Tenn., $150; National Federation of Independent Businesses-Missouri Safe Trust, Washington, D.C., $325; Maggie Hueckel, Essex, Mo., $100; Kathy Swan, Cape Girardeau, $325; Richards Farm, Sikeston, $325; Charles H. Cozean, Cape Girardeau, $325; Mathes Land Development LLC, Cape Girardeau, $200; MRM Farms, East Prairie, Mo., $100; Matthew A. LaValle, Jackson, $200; Purcell Enterprises, Cape Girardeau, $150; Lloyd F. Smith, Cape Girardeau, $325; Birdie F. Rader, Cape Girardeau, $100; 158th Republican Legislative Committee, $325; Marsha Hasell, Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau, $100; Robert E. Breeding, Cape Girardeau, $150; Dean Monahan, Cape Girardeau, $100; John R. Bailey, Cape Girardeau, $150; Kindle Farms, East Prairie, Mo., $200; Joe T. Buerkle, Jackson, $100; Charlotte A. Bess, Cape Girardeau, $100; Horton W. Miller, Jackson, $100; David Eddy Farms, New Madrid, Mo., $200; Bob Jackson, Charleston, Mo., $100; John P. Lichtenegger, Jackson, $100; Pyramid Home Health Services, Cape Girardeau, $325; Norm Harty, Dexter, Mo., $100; T.R. Cole III, Cape Girardeau, $100; Jane Clark, Cape Girardeau, $100; Paul C. Horn, Cape Girardeau, $100; E.D. White, Cape Girardeau, $100; Kenny Kindle II Farms, East Prairie, Mo., $100; Gary Rust, Cape Girardeau, $325; Norm Harty, Dexter, Mo., $100; Harold Williams, Dexter, Mo., $100; Lisa White, Cape Girardeau, $325; Dean White, Cape Girardeau, $290; Gary Wheeler, Jefferson City, Mo., $650; Missouri Independent Bankers Association, Liberty, Mo., $325; Second Senatorial District Republican Committee, St. Charles, Mo., $500; Burke Farms, Charleston, Mo., $250; Barry L. Richardson, Marston, Mo., $250; Norma Lou Richardson, Marston, Mo., $250; Cole Insurance Agency, Sikeston, 325; Citizens for Bearden, St. Charles, Mo., $325; Missourians for Bearden, St. Charles, Mo., $325; Jetton for Speaker, Jefferson City, Mo., $650; Friends of Rod Jetton, Jefferson City, Mo., $650; 84th Legislative District Committee, $1,000; 158th Republican District Legislative Committee, Cape Girardeau, $325; Lawrence H. Rost, New Madrid, Mo., $250; Jake Fisher, Portageville, Mo., $325; Phenmar Inc., Sikeston, $250; Joseph D. Hunter, New Madrid, Mo., $250; Kontek Industries Inc., New Madrid, Mo., $325; Bill Henry Farms, New Madrid, Mo., $100; Reliable Propane Inc., Sikeston, Mo., $500.

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Major contributors in the 160th District Missouri House race

Larry Tetley, Democrat:

Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 36, St. Louis, $325; Tony and Betty Heckemeyer, Sikeston, $250; Bess Heckemeyer, Sikeston, $150; Truman Lemons, Cape Girardeau, $250; James McClellan, Sikeston, $325; Phil and Jan Barkett, Sikeston, $200; Carpenters Help in the Political Process Political Fund, St. Louis, $325; Scott County Democratic Central Committee, Chaffee, $300; Missouri Rental Dealers PAC, Jefferson City, $250; Sharper Systems, Sikeston, $285; H. Marvin Gilmore, Sikeston, $250; Friends of Gina Walsh, St. Louis, $125; Hoisting Engineers Local No. 513, Bridgeton, $325.

Ellen Brandom, Republican:

Silver Dollar City Branson Area Communities PAC, Branson, Mo., $325; Scott County Republican Central Committee, Sikeston, $325; Citizens for Bearden, St. Charles, Mo., $325; Missourians for Bearden, St. Charles, Mo., $325; Jetton for Speaker, Jefferson City, Mo., $325; Second Senatorlal District Republican Committee, St. Charles, Mo., $500; AT&T Missouri Employees PAC, St. Louis, $325; Bill and Ginny Dean, Sikeston, $100; Pyramid Home Health Services, Cape Girardeau, $325; Ray and Elizabeth Rowland, Dexter, Mo., $325; The Sharper System, Sikeston, $300; Edison Schools Inc., New York, N.Y., $150; Janice Matthews, Sikeston, $325; Jennings Brothers Inc., Sikeston, $300; David Keenan, Sikeston, $325; Mary Keenan, Sikeston, $325; Glenn and Donna Barks, Sikeston, $200; Scott and Karen Matthews, Sikeston, $325; Fred and Linda Steward, Sikeston, $500; Ellen Brandom, $593.05; Ross Mothershead, Cape Girardeau, $250.

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Major contributors in the 159th District Missouri House race

Boyce Wooley, Democrat:

Bayless Taylor, Dudley, Mo., $200; Marilyn Williams, Jefferson City, Mo., $200; Byrd Township Democrats, Jackson, $325; Frank Sifford, Bloomfield, Mo., $200; Stoddard County Democratic Central Committee, Dexter, Mo., $250; Stoddard County Democratic Women, Dexter, Mo., $325; Barry Aycock, Parma, Mo., $325.

Billy Pat Wright, Republican:

West County Republican Organization, Ballwin, Mo., $200; 158th Republican Legislative Committee, Cape Girardeau, $325; Missouri Optometric PAC, Jefferson City, $100; Third Senatorial District Republican Committee, Farmington, Mo., $1,350; Competitive Enterprise Growth PAC, Jefferson City, Mo., $325; Republican Organization of Legislative Assistants, Jefferson City, Mo., $325; Jetton for Speaker, Jefferson City, Mo., $325; National Federation of Independent Businessmen, Washington, D.C., $325; Missouri School Administrators PAC, Jefferson City, Mo., $325; Wallace & Owens Country Mart, Dexter, Mo., $300; Cross Trails Medical Center, Cape Girardeau, $300; Southeast Missouri Mutual Fire Ins. Co. Inc., Dexter, Mo., $300; Jacqes Rentals, Dexter, Mo., $150; James Lincoln & Assoc., Sikeston, $300; Health Systems Inc., Sikeston, $300; Dallas Wood, Paragould, Ariz., $200; Dexter Implement Co., Dexter, Mo., $300.

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Major contributors in the 156th District Missouri House race

Michael Winder, Democrat:

Local 439 PAC Fund, Terre Haute, Ind., $325; Metallic Lathers Local 46, New York, N.Y., $350; Local 782 IABS & OIW, Paducah, Ky., $200; Ironworkers Local 401, Philadelphia, Penn., $325; Byrd Township Democrats, Jackson, $325; Ironworkers Local 808, Orlando, Fla., $325; Ironworkers Local No. 401, Philadelphia, Penn., $325; Laborers Local 718, DeSoto, Mo., $325; Sharon Hopkins, Marble Hill, Mo., $150; Architectural & Ornamental Ironworkers Local 63, Broadview, Ill., $200; Cap America Inc., $650; Phillip Page, Fredericktown, Mo., $325; Mary Page, Fredericktown, Mo., $650; Shirla Howard, Dexter, Mo., $100; Southeast Missouri Building Trades Council, Cape Girardeau, $325; Trackside Hardwoods, Marquand, Mo., $250; WPH McFaddin IV, Dexter, Mo., $100; Stoddard County Democratic Women's Club, $325; Bridge & Structural Ironworkers Local 7, South Boston, Mass., $500; Electrical Workers Voluntary Political, Education and Legislative Funds, St. Louis, $325; Mary Jonson Brotherton, Fredericktown, Mo., $325; Ironworkers Local 396, St. Louis, $200; Wayne County Democratic Central Committee, Wiliamsville, Mo., $1,500.

Rod Jetton, Republican:

Associated Builders & Contractors Heart, Kansas City, Mo., $325; Missouri Independent Bankers Association, Liberty, Mo., $325; Centene Corp PAC, St. Louis, $325; Mo Rental Dealers Association PAC, Jefferson City, Mo., $250; Premium Standard Farms Inc., Kansas City, Mo., $300; Dealers Interested in Government, $325; Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill., $300; All Children Matter, Alexandria, Va., $325; Builders Association PAC, Kansas City, Mo., $325; MWSP PAC, Jefferson City, Mo., $325; Missouri Bankers Association River Heritage Region PAC, Jefferson City, Mo., $325; Dairel L. Denton Jr. & Assoc. CPA PC, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; Rusby Adams, Jackson, $100; Lewis Farm and Specialty, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; HR Porterfield Architect, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; Phil Childress Bail Bond LLC, Williamsvile, Mo., $325; Willard Barks, Piedmont, Mo., $100; Alvin Bess, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; Charlotte Bess, Cape Girardeau, $100; Gene Bess, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; BW Birk, Cape Girardeau, $100; Shirley Bock, Cape Girardeau, $100; Dave Bowman, Wiliamsville, Mo., $100; Sandra Brennan, Cape Girardeau, $100; Tom Brumitt, Cape Girardeau, $250; Truman Cato, Advance, Mo., $100; Larry Clemens, Piedmont, Mo., $100; Almon Coleman, Piedmont, Mo., $100; Terry Crowell, Cape Girardeau, $100; J. George Davis, Cape Girardeau, $100; Ronald Deck, Marble Hill, Mo., $100; Kenneth Detring, Jackson, $100; Welker Drilling Co., Marble Hill, Mo., $100; Lowes & Drusch, Cape Girardeau, $100; Arthur Duprey, Marble Hill, Mo., $125; Harold Ellinghouse, Piedmont, Mo., $100; Lester Enderle, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; Competitive Enterprise Growth PAC, Jefferson City, Mo., $325; Bob Sutton Real Estate & Loans, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; Hackworth & Ferguson LLC, Piedmont, Mo., $100; Gale Francis, Glenallen, Mo., $100; Harold Francis, Marquand, Mo., $100; L.W. Gregory, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; Pyramid Home Healthcare Inc., Cape Girardeau, $325; Mike Hill, Fredericktown, Mo., $100; Ruth Holloway, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; Tri County Home Health Inc., Cape Girardeau, $325; Christopher Huckstep, Cape Girardeau, $250; Mary Jo Johnson, Piedmont, Mo., $100; Gerald Jones, Jackson, $100; William Jud, Fredericktown, Mo., $100; William Kapp, Cape Girardeau, $325; Edwin Kiefner, Patton, Mo., $100; Shanon Kirchoff, Cape Girardeau, $250; David Knight, Cape Girardeau, $100; David Law, Cape Girardeau, $100; Thomas Lawson, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; David Libla, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; Doug Libla, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; JCS/TEL Link, Cape Girardeau, $325; Donald Mason, Jackson, $100; Bob Matthews, Cape Girardeau, $100; Donald Mays, Fredericktown, Mo., $100; Rose McDaniel, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $200; Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, Mo., $325; Jan McFerron, Advance, Mo., $100; Dolores Miller, Marble Hill, Mo., $100; Michael Neece, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; Jeffrey Parker, Piedmont, Mo., $100; Ronald Parker, Leopold, Mo., $100; Martha Peters, Marble Hill, Mo., $100; Scot Pringle, Cape Girardeau, $100; Thomas Reinagel, Cape Girardeau, $100; Kim Ricketts, Marble Hill, Mo., $100; Ray Ritter, Cape Girardeau, $100; Gene Roberts, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; Robin Rogers, Dexter, Mo., $100; Sandy Runnels, Cape Girardeau, $100; Robert Russell, Cape Girardeau, $325; Gary Rust, Cape Girardeau, $325; John Sarff, Jackson, $100; Jerry Schwab, Cape Girardeau, $100; Missouri Times Sales Service Inc., Jefferson City, Mo., $325; Pyramid Homemaker Services Inc., Cape Girardeau, $325; Donald Shelton, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; Jo Ann Shrum, Marble Hill, Mo., $200; Ruth Ann Skaggs, Fredericktown, Mo., $100; Vicki Smith, Jackson, $100; O'Donoghue's Steaks and Seafood, Jefferson City, Mo., $100; Jerry Stone, Cape Girardeau, $100; Casey's General Stores, Ankeny, Iowa, $300; Kathy Swan, Cape Girardeau, $325; Reginald Swan, Cape Girardeau, $325; Dwight Tanksley, Cape Girardeau, $100; Kimberly Tanksley, Cape Girardeau, $100; Paul Thomas, Marble Hill, Mo., $100; Sheridan Thomas, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; Jerad Tittel, Patton, Mo., $100; Gregory Tobin, Cape Girardeau, $325; Rice Trailers Co., Naylor, Mo., $100; Harold Twidwell, Hiram, Mo., $100; Herbert Wedemeier, Cape Girardeau, $100; Don Wesbecher, Marble Hill, Mo., $100; Robert Whelan, Poplar Bluff, Mo., $100; Stan Wicks, Cape Girardeau, $100; D. Ray Wilson, Cape Girardeau, $100; Laura Younghouse, Cape Girardeau, $100; Don Zimmer, Cape Girardeau, $200.