Dooley raises big money, but not really big money
The largest contributions to the campaign committee of St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley have one less zero than the top donations that went to the campaign of Gov. Matt Blunt.
While Blunt, a Republican, received eight donations of $100,000 apiece, the largest donation to Dooley, a Democrat, was $10,000.
The county executive raised $138,448.69 between Dec. 3 and March 31, but his donations were at least one level lower in scale than the governor, who said he raised $6.23 million.
Both the county executive and the governor filed campaign finance reports Monday with the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Dooley reported having $67,902.41 in his campaign chest on March 31. He raised $138,448.69 and spent $80,250.03 between Dec. 3, 2006 and March 31.
The county executive received contributions of $10,000 each from Civic Service Inc. of Clayton, Drury Inns Inc. of Creve Coeur and John Alberici, president of Alberici Constructors Inc. of Overland.
Dooley also obtained 10 donations of $5,000. Among the contributors of that amount were Anheuser Busch Cos. Inc.; Don Dobbs, president of Dobbs Tire and Centers Inc; North Oaks Group Inc., owner of a shopping center in Dooley’s hometown of Northwoods, and the Thompson Coburn law firm of St. Louis.
Among developers contributing to the county executive were Don Musick and Alan Skop of DCM Management Inc. and John Berra of J.H. Berra Construction Co. Also contributing were the St. Louis County Police Association, a political action committee of UniteHERE Missouri.
Dooley reported spending $80,250.03 between Dec. 3, 2006 and March 3 with much of the money going to a campaign consultant and mailings.
In other campaign finance reports:
> Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch reported raising $2,153.68 and spending $11,852.44 in the reporting period. He has $139,188.31 available in his campaign fund.
>County Council member Hazel Erby, D-University City, said she raised $1,740 and spent $1,870 in the reporting period. She received a $1,500 contribution from home builder McBride & Son Homes. The campaign has $1,015.12 available.
> County Council member Kathleen Kelly Burkett, D-Overland, reported raising $1,175 and spending $1,231 in the reporting period. She received contributions from campaign committees for Dooley, and Atty. Gen. Jay Nixon. The campaign has $725.85 available.
> County Council member Colleen Wasinger, R-Town and Country, raised no money and spent $1,502.25 in the reporting period. Most of her spending was for a swearing-in reception. The campaign has $2,772.90 available.
> County Council member Barbara Fraser, D-University City, raised $1,650 and spent $1,797 in the reporting period. She received donations from an affiliate of developer THF Realty Inc. and from Michael Neidorff, chief executive officer of Centene Corp. which wants to build a major office building and store complex in Clayton. The campaign has $12,847.12 available.
> County Council member John Campisi, R-south St. Louis County, reported raising $7,850 and spending $3,166.17 in the reporting period. Among donors were Drury Displays Inc., a affiliate of the Drury development company, Stumpf Development Corp. and the political action committee of the Missouri Restaurant Association. The campaign has $7,582.30 available.
> County Council member Greg Quinn, R-Ballwin, raised no money and spent $98.40 in the reporting period. His campaign has $20,911.25 available.
> The campaign committee for a property tax increase of 34 cents for each $100 of assessed valuation for Kirkwood that will be on a special election ballot in the city in June reported raising $11,770 and spending nothing since Jan. 1. The Kirkwood Professional Police Association gave an $8,000 donation.
> The campaign committee that unsuccessfully tried in the April 3 local elections to pass a $32 million bond for the Ritenour School District reported raising no money and spending $850 in the reporting period. The spending was a for a lunch for elderly and for advertisements. The campaign has $1,939.88 available.

