Montee leads way in auditor fundraising

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Republican state auditor's primary has drawn a crowd. But it is a Democrat who has drawn the most money.

Democratic Buchanan County Auditor Susan Montee reported the largest fundraising figures during the past quarter and the greatest amount of cash on hand among the eight Republican, Democratic and Libertarian auditor candidates in the Aug. 8 primary elections.

Campaign finance reports due Monday to the Missouri Ethics Commission showed state Sen. John Loudon, of Chesterfield, raised the most among the five Republican auditor candidates during the three-month period ending June 30. But Rep. Jack Jackson, of Wildwood, had the greatest amount of campaign cash on hand among Republicans.

The Missouri auditor's ballot will have no incumbent this year because Auditor Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, is instead challenging Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Talent.

Montee, the only Democrat raising money for the race, reported receipts of $77,668 during the quarter and $670,343 on hand. She began her campaign last September with a $500,000 personal loan.

"I feel very proud of the strong support I'm getting from the Democratic voters," said Montee, adding that she has not decided whether to do any advertising in her primary against Columbia resident Darrell Wattenbarger. He is not raising money.

In response to Montee's personal loan, Jackson also loaned his campaign $500,000 in March. He reported $485,663 on hand and receipts of $40,330 from April through June.

Loudon raised $66,678 during the period and reported $135,493 still on hand. He also paid back a $7,500 personal loan - making him unique among the candidates.

"We have outraised each of our primary opponents every quarter since entering this race," said Loudon campaign director Gary McElyea. "Our support comes from across this state and we have not had to resort to self-financing this campaign, an important factor to voters, especially in an auditor's race."

Platte County Auditor Sandra Thomas, a Republican who entered the race in March, reported receipts of $30,139 during the past quarter. But like Jackson, she had more money on hand than Loudon. She loaned her campaign $150,000 in March and reported $191,122 in her campaign account as of the end of June.

Republican Rep. Mark Wright, of Springfield, reported raising $18,083 during the quarter with $40,431 on hand. Wright loaned his campaign $50,000 in March.

The other Republican candidate, Concordia resident Al Hanson, is not raising money. Neither is Libertarian candidate Charles Baum, of University City.