Candidates disclose campaign finances

With less than a week to win undecided voters before Election Day, campaign money is flowing steadily into two races in Adair County for seats in the Missouri legislature.

As Nov. 2 draws near, partisan campaign committees in Jefferson City and political action committees are both pumping money into the Wes Shoemyer (D) v. Brian Munzlinger (R) race for the district 18 Senate seat, and the Rebecca McClanahan (D) v. Zachary Wyatt (R) race for district 2 representative in the House of Representatives, according to candidates' campaign finance disclosure reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

The candidates have been spending campaign money on TV ads, radio ads, campaign signs, fundraising events and to pay media consultants and campaign workers, according to the MEC reports.

In Missouri, candidates for statewide and county offices are required to file periodic reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission. The reports list the amount of money individuals and organizations have contributed to a candidate's campaign and where each candidate has spent that money.

They are available for the public to read at the Missouri Ethics Commission website, mec.mo.gov.

Shoemyer has raised approximately $170,000 more in campaign funds than his challenger Munzlinger since the August primaries, according to the most recent reports filed with the MEC.

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ries, Munzlinger has received more than $50,000 in campaign contributions from the Missouri Republican State Committee, $138,000 from republican PAC the Majority Fund Inc. and $50,000 from republican Sen. Brad Lager's campaign committee, according to reports his campaign committee has filed with the MEC.

Incumbent Shoemyer's largest campaign contributor has been the Missouri Democratic State Committee, with more than $200,000 in-kind contributions since the August primaries.

Linden L. Vanlandingham, treasurer for Shoemyer's campaign committee, said an example of an in-kind donation is providing refreshments at a fundraiser.

"It's not a check, it's not something that the treasurer can spend on the campaign," Vanlandingham said.

Another large donation to Shoemyer's campaign was a $15,000 contribution from the union American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, according to the MEC report.

In the district 2 House race, Rep. McClanahan's largest campaign donation since the August primary election has been $10,000 from Hannibal-based Comprehensive Health Systems.

Challenger Wyatt has received a combined $14,500 from four different anesthesia associations across the state.  Wyatt said anesthesiologists support his position that nurses should not be allowed to take on some of the responsibilities that are currently restricted to doctors.   

Both Wyatt and McClanahan have received a portion of their campaign funds from individual donors. In the most recent reports filed with the MEC, McClanahan received $5,140 in contributions from 54 individual donors for an average of $95 per donor. In the same reporting period, Wyatt received $6,652.50 from 37 individuals for an average donation of $179 per donor.

Missouri law requires TV and radio stations to make campaign ad records available to the public.

As of Wednesday, Munzlinger's campaign committee has spent $78,620 on TV ads, and Shoemyer's campaign has spent $103,440, according to the KTVO public records.

As of Tuesday, Munzlinger has spent nearly $14,000 on radio ads in Kirksville between the stations KIRX, KTUF and KRXL, according to the stations' records.

Shoemyer has spent approximately $12,600 on radio ads between the same three stations as of Tuesday, according to station records.

McClanahan's campaign committee, "Re-Elect Rebecca McClanahan," has spent $2,860 on TV ads at KTVO as of yesterday.

The House Republican Campaign Committee has spent $15,000 on campaign ads for Wyatt as of yesterday.

Wyatt's campaign committee and the HRCC so far have outspent McClanahan's campaign in radio advertisements, as well.

As of this Tuesday, the committee "Re-elect Rebecca McClanahan" has spent $2,520 on radio ads, split evenly between KIRK, KTUF and KRXL, according to the public access files.

Wyatt's campaign committee has spent $5,545 in radio ads between KIRX, KTUF and KRXL, in addition to the $9,342 in radio ads the HRCC bought for Wyatt's campaign.

Wyatt said he has not been involved in the campaign ads the HRCC has funded for his campaign because it is against state law.

"Missouri ethics laws state that I cannot know what another entity is doing on my behalf," Wyatt said.

All of McClanahan's TV and radio ads have been paid for by her campaign committee. McClanahan said she is not aware of any plans by the House Democratic Campaign Committee or any other entity to fund ads for her campaign. She said that as a part of her commitment to a 100 percent positive campaign, she has asked to retain editorial control of all campaign ads.  

The HRCC bought ad time for Wyatt's campaign, but Wyatt said the HRCC has not made direct contributions to his campaign fund. However, he has received contributions from HRCC chairman Steve Tilley and House republican Tim Jones, according to MEC reports.

The next campaign finance disclosure reports are due to the MEC 30 days after the Nov. 2 general elections. Any contribution of more than $250 made between Oct. 21 and Nov. 1 must be reported to the MEC within 24 hours and will be posted online, according to the MEC website.