Chris Benjamin – Democratic candidate in the 31st Senate District
David Pearce (r), advocate of automotive deer hunting, had another not so good very bad fundraising quarter. Chris Benjamin (D) did quite well, thank you very much. Rex Rector (r) is, well, Rex Rector.
The 31st Senate District includes Bates, Cass, Johnson, and Vernon counties and the cities of Warrensburg, Butler, Harrisonville, and Nevada (among many others). This is an open seat race – Chris Koster (D) who currently holds the seat is running for Attorney General.
David Pearce (r) filed his first quarter 2008 campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 14th:
Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report
Committee[e]: PEARCE 081. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $100,950.06
2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $8,715.00
3. ALL LOANS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $24,000.00
11. EXPENDITURES MADE BY CASH OR CHECK THIS PERIOD $23,135.30
15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $37,847.66
28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27 )$100,545.60
35. TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 29 + 30 + 31 – 32 – 33 – 34) $49,000.00
[emphasis added]
Whoa, Nelly! $8,715.00 raised in a Senate race in one quarter? Why that might be some kind of record – for the most pitiful quarter ever. $100,000.00 cash on hand of which $49,000.00 is in loans he made to his campaign. That’s not doing very well, is it?
Let’s look at what he spent:
Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made
Committee[e]: PEARCE 08
Report[ ]Date: 4/14/2008Callis & Associates Sedalia, MO 01/01/2008 campaign work $14,785.67
Callis & Associates Sedalia, MO 02/14/2008 campaign work $6,095.96
White Rock Tees Warrensburg, MO 03/14/2008 campaign materials $653.67
(14. TOTAL: ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES THIS PERIOD: $23,135.30)
[emphasis added]
Well, evidently the money wasn’t spent on fundraising. But, he does have t-shirts!
Let’s take a look at Chris Benjamin’s (D) first quarter 2008 campaign finance report filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 15th.
Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report
Committee[e]: BENJAMIN FOR SENATE1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $0.00
2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $56,825.00
3. ALL LOANS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $0.00
11. EXPENDITURES MADE BY CASH OR CHECK THIS PERIOD $1,684.01
15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $1,684.01
28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $55,140.99
35. TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 29 + 30 + 31 – 32 – 33 – 34) $0.00
[emphasis added]
You can certainly tell who is the model of fiscal responsibility, and who isn’t.
Oh, I almost forgot. The “right winger with the most appropriate name evah”, Rex Rector, also filed his first quarter 2008 campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission:
Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report
Committee[e]: CITIZENS FOR REX RECTOR1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $0.00
2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $1,710.00
3. ALL LOANS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $0.00
11. EXPENDITURES MADE BY CASH OR CHECK THIS PERIOD $3,285.19
15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $4,430.11
28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $2,046.57
35. TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD
(SUM 29 + 30 + 31 – 32 – 33 – 34) $0.00
[emphasis added]
Hmmm. One candidate has been raising money for 15 months and has $100,000.00 cash on hand (after loaning his campaign $49,000.00) and one candidate has been fundraising for what, eight weeks, and has $55,000.00 cash on hand. What’s your guess about momentum?
From Chris Benjamin today:
I greatly appreciate the support that we have received from so many people in the 31st district and look forward to continuing this momentum as we bring our message to the voters of putting middle class families and public education first in Jefferson City.
Sounds like a winning Democratic candidate to me.