For some reason the job of Lieutenant Governor of Missouri is a popular one. There’s a certain attraction to it for a number of people.
Lieutenant Governor (in ballot order)
Republican
Peter Kinder Cape Girardeau MO 2/26/2008
Paul Douglas Sims Lecoma MO 2/26/2008
Arthur Hodge Sr. Springfield MO 3/18/2008Democratic
Sam Page Creve Coeur MO 2/26/2008
Michael E. Carter St. Charles MO 2/26/2008
Richard Charles Tolbert Kansas City MO 3/19/2008
Becky L. Plattner Grand Pass MO 3/21/2008
Mary Williams Jefferson City MO 3/24/2008
C. Lillian Metzger Troy MO 3/25/2008Libertarian
Teddy Fleck Springfield MO 2/26/2008
That’s some list. Let’s slog through those campaign finance reports.
Teddy Fleck (L) filed a Limited Activity Statement (pdf) with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 3rd.
Arthur Hodge, Sr. (r) filed a Statement of Exemption (pdf) (he will not spend more than $500.00 nor accept more than $500.00 in contributions) on March 30th (received April 8th) with the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Paul Sims (r) has yet to file anything with the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Pete Kinder (r) filed his first quarter 2008 campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 15th.
Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report
Committee [e]: FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $858,278.52
2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $468,405.00
3. ALL LOANS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $0.00
9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $1,326,843.52
15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $680,465.90
25. MONEY ON HAND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (INCLUDING FUNDS IN DEPOSITORY, CASH, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND ALL OTHER INVESTMENTS) $274,589.74
28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $640,589.73
[emphasis added]
Let’s see where he spent some money:
Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made
Committee[e]: FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER
Report[ ]Date: 04/13/2008Horizon Promotional Products Cape Girardeau, MO 02/28/2008 shirts $1,087.46
Horizon Screen Printing Cape Girardeau, MO 02/28/2008 stickers and shirts $1,020.84
T-shirts!
Capitol Consulting Jefferson City, MO 02/28/2008 fundraising $14,210.60
Capitol Consulting Jefferson City, MO 02/28/2008 fundraising $7,000.00
Capitol Consulting Jefferson City, MO 02/28/2008 printing, supplies and po $2,650.64
Show me the money!
Jared Brown Jackson, MO 03/06/2008 data entry $4,000.00
Jared Brown Jackson, MO 02/11/2008 data entry $8,000.00
Jared Brown Jackson, MO 01/18/2008 data entry $4,000.00
Data entry? Do you think that’s a lot of data?
Okay, where did the money come from?:
Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received
Committee: FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER
Report Date: 04/13/20085th Judicial Circuit Rep Comm Saint Joseph, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00
12th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00
14th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00
15th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00
16th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00
17th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $7,500.00
19th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00
23rd Senatorial Dist Republican Comm St. Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00
27th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Joseph, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00
85th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Louis, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00
The Seventh State Dist Republican Comm Saint Louis, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00
106th Legislative Dist. Rep. Committee Farmington, MO 03/31/2008 $13,250.00
3rd Senatorial Dist. Rep. Committee Bonne Terre, MO 03/31/2008 $13,250.00
12th Senatorial District Committee Maryville, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00
People for John Griesheimer Washington, MO 02/15/2008 $1,350.00
30th Republican Leg. Dist. Comm Smithville, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00
The 35th Republican Leg. Dist. Comm. Kearney, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00
129th Republican Leg. District Comm Joplin, MO 03/31/2008 $12,150.00
32nd Republican Legislative Committe Kansas City, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00
Republican 18th Legislative Dist Com Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00
MO 29th Legislative District Saint Joseph, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00
Boone County Rep Central Comm Columbia, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00
Newton County Rep Central Comm Neosho, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00
1st Senatorial Rep. Dist. Committee 03/31/2008 $13,450.00
32nd Senatorial Republican Committee Joplin, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00
150th Legislative Republican Fund 03/31/2008 $13,450.00
34th Republican Senatorial Dist Comm Saint Joseph, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00
13. TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSONS GIVING $100 OR LESS $1,680.00
[emphasis added]
We have a champion! Don’t you just love the “grass roots”? Evidently republican committees in St. Charles and St. Joseph are flush with cash. And what is it with republican committees and the last day of the quarter? Gee, do the only cut checks four times a year? Okay, silly question. You’d think they’d go with a day that was a little more symbolic – like the vernal equinox.
C. Lillian Metzger (D) filed a Statement of Exemption (pdf) (she will not spend more than $500.00 nor accept more than $500.00 in contributions) on March 37th (received April 1st) with the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Mary Williams (D) filed an Exemption Statement Of Limited Activity For Candidate Who Filed Statement Of Exemption (pdf) with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 15th.
Becky Plattner (D) has yet to file anything with the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Richard Tolbert (D) has yet to file anything with the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Michael Carter (D) has yet to file anything with the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Sam Page (D) filed his first quarter 2008 campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 11th.
Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report
Committee[e]: PAGE FOR MISSOURI1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $664,413.69
2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $152,113.00
3. ALL LOANS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $0.00
6. IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $4,708.10
9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $821,234.79
10. TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR THIS
ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $306,171.6015. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $404,425.16
25. MONEY ON HAND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (INCLUDING FUNDS IN DEPOSITORY, CASH, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND ALL OTHER INVESTMENTS) $354,793.02
28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $413,035.56
[emphasis added]
Let’s take a look at campaign expenses:
Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made
Committe[e]: PAGE FOR MISSOURI
Report[ ]Date: 04/11/2008U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 01/07/2008 P.O. Box Rental $92.00
U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 01/18/2008 Stamps $41.00
U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 01/31/2008 Postage $4,510.00
U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 02/19/200 Postage $6,437.00
U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 03/12/2008 Postage $1,722.00
U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 03/13/2008 Postage $533.00
I sense a mail plan.
Let’s take a look at where the money comes from:
Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received
Committee: PAGE FOR MISSOURI
Report Date: 04/11/20082nd Congressional District Democrats Ballwin, MO 03/25/2008 $5,000.00
87th LDDC Clayton, MO 03/25/2008 $680.20 In-Kind
87th LDDC Clayton, MO 03/31/2008 $5,850.00
87th LDDC Clayton, MO 03/31/2008 $5,850.00
92nd District Democrats Ballwin, MO 03/25/2008 $4,500.00
And a long list lot of contributions from individuals.
According to the ‘Marshall Democrat News’ (03/25/08) Commissioner Becky Plattner announced she is seeking the office of lieutenant governor and filed Friday, March 21, to be on the August primary ballot. In the announcement she stated: “I’m not going to run a hard campaign,” I am committed to serving the people of Saline County. I just want to get my name in the hat….”
According the ‘Slater Main Street News’ (04/24/08) Commissioner Becky Plattner announced on April 19 the she will be running for Lt. Governor in the 2012 election. In the announcement she stated: “…I have given this much thought…My focus will be on the 2012 election and I hope…I will be the next Lieutant Governor of Missouri.”
She is still listed on the 2008 ballot, according the Sec. of State Robin Carnahan’ web site. According the Mo Ethics Commission web site, no reports have been received about financial disclosure, direct expenditures, campaign/campaign committee report, or a statement of exemption. Can someone explain these apparent errors, oversights, ethical lapses and mixed messages or did I miss something in political science class?
Is Becky Plattner running for Lt. Governor this year and announcing her “re-election” campaign a month later? Has she withdrawn from the 2008 election? Is she stating she will not run commissioner again? Does she plan on running “hard” in 2012 and use 2008 as a ‘rehearsal’? Does she plan on filing campaign finance reports required by law? Does she have any idea what she is doing?