Campaign spending modest in state House races

The most recent reported quarter was one of low spending, according to campaign-finance reports submitted to the Missouri Ethics Commission for candidates running for Missouri's 145th and 147th House Districts.

Republican Shelley Keeney and Democrat Charles Elrod will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot as candidates for the 145th District. Republican Kathy Swan, Democrat Gary Gaines and Libertarian Greg Tlapek are running for the 147th District House seat.

The October quarterly reports showed campaign expenditures made between Aug. 31 and Sept. 30 ranged from $480 to nearly $2,500. Candidates are required to report the formation of a campaign committee and any fundraising when they receive or spend $500 or more.

Tlapek was the only candidate to file an exemption statement of limited activity, meaning any contributions received or expenditures made were below the $500 limit.

The campaign for incumbent Swan reported $38,500.96 on hand at the beginning of the period, significantly more than the opposition. At the close of the reporting period, her campaign reported $8,350 in contributions and $1,683.15 in spending. The campaign fund had $41,167.81 on hand. Many of the contributions made to Swan's campaign in the most recent quarter came from businesses and political action committees.

At the beginning of the period, Gaines' campaign reported $1,549.28 on hand. He received no contributions and reported $480 in expenditures, leaving $1,068.63 on hand by the close of the period. Gaines' campaign largely has been self-funded since it was formed, although received a financial contribution from the Cape Girardeau County Democratic Central Committee in August.

In the 145th District race, incumbent Keeney also has enjoyed a financial lead over her opponent. Her campaign reported $19,071.71 on hand at the beginning of the period. She received $8,425 during the most recent period and spent $1,423. About half of the contributions came from political action committees.

Elrod's campaign had $4,789.28 on hand at the beginning of the reporting period. He received $472 in monetary contributions, all from individual donors, and reported $485.22 in-kind donations, many from Elrod himself. His expenditures for the period totaled $2,475.11, leaving Elrod with $2,786.17 on hand.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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