Not really.
As if it was a really tough race in 2010:
Official Election Returns
State of Missouri General Election – November 2, 2010 General Election
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
As announced by the Board of State Canvassers
on Tuesday, November 30, 2010State Representative – District 127 – Summary
Precincts Reporting 18 of 18
Candidate Party Votes % of Votes
Flanigan, Tom REP 10,006 100.0%Total Votes 10,006
[emphasis added]
Okay, nothing to see here. Maybe there are a number of candidates who have filed to run in the 127th Legislative District in 2012:
A search for candidates in the 127th Legislative District at the Missouri Ethics Commission only turns up one committee.
Nope. Not yet.
Then why this, today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission?:
C061710 10/13/2011 COMMITTEE TO ELECT TOM FLANIGAN David and Debra Humphreys P O BOX 4050 Joplin MO 64803 Businessman 10/13/2011 $25,000.00
[emphasis added]
That’s some serious money. There’s probably a recent history of raising big bucks, right? Wrong:
REPORT SUMMARY
COMMITTEE TO ELECT TOM FLANIGAN [pdf] 1/14/20111. Total Receipts For This Election Previously Reported $8,400.00
27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $12,616.01
[emphasis added]
REPORT SUMMARY
COMMITTEE TO ELECT TOM FLANIGAN [pdf] 4/13/20111. Total Receipts For This Election Previously Reported $0.00
27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $10,396.67
[emphasis added]
REPORT SUMMARY
COMMITTEE TO ELECT TOM FLANIGAN [pdf] 7/11/20112. All Monetary Contributions Received This Period $3,800.00
27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $12,689.75
[emphasis added]
What’s the need for a $25,000.00 campaign contribution? Why now? That’s in the same league as statewide candidates. Or, in the 127th Legislative District, that comes to approximately $2.50 a vote in 2010 dollars.