Morris, Burton report Senate contributions

Nevada Daily Mail

In his first try for state legislative office, Peculiar car dealer Dave Morris relied heavily on yard and roadside signs in his Missouri Senate campaign against fellow Republicans Ed Emery of Lamar and Scott Largent of Clinton.

The mens' Aug. 7 primary ended with Emery winning the GOP nomination to oppose Drexel Democrat Charlie Burton in the Nov. 6 general election. Largent finished second and Morris third with Morris' 10.3 percent of the votes possibly helping Emery prevail in the five-county Senate District 31 contest. Emery got 46 percent and Largent 43.7, according to the Missouri Secretary of State's Office in Jefferson City.

Morris told the Missouri Ethics Commission on July 30 that he had raised $23,037 for the race, incurring $10,000 in indebtedness while spending $17,164 in Barton, Vernon, Bates, Henry and Cass counties. His top contributions included $1,000 from Balentine Rentals in Raymore; $620, M&M Graphics, Belton; $500, Ronald Holt, Kansas City tax accountant; $300, Helen Zmuda, Peculiar; $250 each, Jerry Sackman, Independence; Emmett Smith, Belton; and Bill Anderson, Peculiar broadcaster; and $200 each, Jim and Alan's Auto, Overland Park; Andrea Emerick, Raymore; Kathleen Mayer, Lake Ozark; Kristan Mesiti, Lake Ozark; and Melinda Vaters, Peculiar.

Morris' expenditures were $7,122 to Fletcher's Forms of Belton for signs and printing; $450 to Watermark Accountability Services of Jefferson City for data management; and $133 to Staples of Jefferson City for printing and direct mail.

Candidates have until Sept. 6 to file comprehensive reports.

Unopposed in the Democratic primary, Burton reported receiving $7,320 in donations and spending $3,529.

Burton was given $500 by Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 2 in Kansas City; $250 each, Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO Project 2000; Greater Kansas City Building & Construction Trades Council, Independence; and Charles Foland, Belton; $200, Sprinkler Fitters Local No. 314, Kansas City; and $100 each, Stephen Bough, Kansas City attorney; J.C. Owsley, Cross Timbers; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 1439, St. Louis; Kristi Kenney, Clinton attorney; Becky Lents, Drexel; Dale Allen, Peculiar; and Donald Long, Harrisonville.

Burton's expenditures for campaign events included $261 to Wald & Co. in Greenwood; $162 to the 1701 W. 133rd St. Walmart in Kansas City; and $126 to Action Rental in Harrisonville.

Either Emery or Burton will now succeed Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, who was redistricted out of the 31st District. Pearce, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, will face Higginsville Democrat ElGene ver Dught this fall.