3 weeks left until Columbia Ward 2 special election. Who's funding candidates?
It is a race between Pickelman's Gourmet Cafe executive Ken Rice and librarian and community organizer Vera Elwood. Both have raised funds for their campaigns, but who is providing the money? Quarterly campaign finance reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission paint a picture.
Rice started with $67.33 in cash on hand. He then received contributions totaling $4,690. After expenses of roughly $1,624 he is left with $3,132 on hand. He has no outstanding debts.
Individual monetary contributions range from $40 to $500, mostly from retired Columbia residents. Rice received a $500 contribution from Paul Tuttle, a Pickleman's franchise operator in Lenexa, Kansas.
His most significant contribution was the $2,500 his campaign received from Citizens for a Safe Columbia political action committee.
This PAC in its July quarterly report solely was supported by the Columbia Police Officers Association, which is the local police union. The PAC originally was formed in 2009, and based on other quarterly and major contribution reports receives support from other law enforcement-associated PACs, as well, although the majority of funding comes from the CPOA.
Citizens for a Safe Columbia in recent elections made direct or indirect contributions supporting the Blair Murphy for Columbia mayor campaign, Ron Graves in the Columbia Ward 4 race, Jacque Sample for Ward 3 race, Cops for Kehoe committee and Stephanie Morrell for Boone County circuit judge.
Expenditures, mostly spent locally, went to campaign marketing, campaign leaflets and other materials. The few out-of-state expenses went to paying the fees for fundraising platform Anedot and voter data platform Numinar. A search of Open Secrets notes these vendors typically are associated with Republican organizations, candidates or campaigns.
Elwood started with no cash on hand. She received campaign cycle monetary contributions of $10,450. After expenses of roughly $249, she is left with $10,200 on hand as well as $4,602 in outstanding debt.
Individual monetary contributions ranged from $25 to $500, where a majority came from local residents. There was one $100 contribution from an employee of AMM Political Strategies. A search of Open Secrets notes this organization typically is association with Democratic organizations, candidates or campaigns.
Elwood has received donations from a handful of local and regional PACs. This includes $1,500 from the 955 PAC, which is associated with Laborers International Union of North America Local 955 and was formed in 2023. This PAC is supported by LiUNA 955 members in its recent campaign finance report. The Boone County Democrats Central Committee contributed $500, Columbia Professional Firefighters PAC provided $1,000 and Missouri and Kansas Laborers PAC gave $2,500.
More: Ward 2 election race a 'tale of two endorsements' from former Columbia City Council members
Boone County Democrats is supported by the Boone County Muleskinners, Democratic elected officials, Boone County residents and even Elwood, among others. Apart from the contribution, the Columbia Firefighters PAC, which was formed in 2010, has seen limited activity in recent years. Missouri and Kansas Laborers has provided contributions to both Democratic and Republican organizations and candidates in a campaign finance report, though mostly to Democrats.
Expenses went to Show Me Victories campaign materials, including yard signs. The organization did not have a vendor profile on Open Secrets. Show Me Victories can also conduct political polling and research to provide strategic messaging for candidates, website information noted.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia Ward 2 election candidates file campaign finance reports
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