Unlike the spirited battle for county executive already shaping up in St. Louis County more than a year before the November 2010 election, the race for St. Charles County executive has been a quiet affair so far.

Ehlmann

So far, no Democratic challengers have surfaced to take on St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann, a Republican seeking a second four-year term.

In fact, Ehlmann’s campaign committee got a $500 donation in August from the law firm of a leading Democrat who at one time was regarded as a potential candidate for executive himself - former County Councilman Joseph McCulloch.

Ehlmann said he had known McCulloch since McCulloch was an assistant county prosecutor working on cases in Ehlmann’s court division when Ehlmann was a circuit judge. McCulloch, the brother of St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch, couldn’t be reached for comment.

Ehlmann’s quarterly finance report filed last week also showed some other support from sources usually more friendly to Democrats:  unions.

J. McCulloch

Ehlmann reported more than $3,000 in donations in recent months from union groups, including $500 from the Missouri AFL-CIO’s political action committee. Ehlmann also got some labor support when he first ran for executive in 2006, when he easily beat little-known Democrat Jim Rutherford.

Meanwhile, the political committee of former Democratic state Sen. Wayne Goode of Pasadena Hills kicked in $100 to Ehlmann’s committee. Ehlmann said he had worked with Goode on some issues when they served together in the Senate.

Overall, Ehlmann’s committee reported raising about $57,000 since the 2006 race and had money on hand of more than $46,000.  Among the many business-oriented donors were Fred Weber Inc., $1,000; Hunter Engineering Co., $2,000, and developer Paul McKee Jr. and his wife, Marguerite McKee, $1,400. Companies tied to McKee gave more than $3,000.

Ehlmann said he hadn’t heard of any prospective opponents yet but was taking nothing for granted and would continue his fundraising efforts.

The county Democratic chairman, St. Peters Alderman Tommy Roberts, said he, too, hadn’t come across any Democrats expressing interest in making the race. But he said that could change, even in the heavily Republican county.

“There’s always a chance,” he said.  He pointed out that some people in politics regarded Democrat Jerry Daugherty’s race last year against longtime Republican County Councilman Dan Foust as a “lost cause.” Daugherty worked hard and unseated Foust.