St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley and Bill Corrigan, his likely Republican opponent in the November, 2010 election for the office, are raising money at a fast pace, campaign finance reports said.

Dooley, a Democrat, reported raising $320,764.69 between April 1 and June 30. Corrigan, an attorney from Ladue, didn’t enter the contest until mid-May; he reported raising $276,373 between May 15 and June 30.

Following state law, both candidates on Wednesday filed quarterly campaign finance reports with the state Ethics Commission. Both candidates must win their respective party primaries for the office in August 2010 before they can face each other in the following November.

Dooley reported having $429,707.22 in his campaign chest. Corrigan said he had $265,118.13 available.

John Temporiti, the campaign manager and treasurer for Dooley, said the county executive is well on his way toward reaching a target of raising $1 million this year. “I fully expect we’ll raise well over $1 million,” Temporiti said Tuesday.

Since the end of the reporting period, Dooley has raised an additional $36,000, reports his campaign filed with the Ethics Commission show.
In the reporting period, contributors were about evenly divided between those who contributed $500 or less and those donated $501 or more, Temporiti said. The spread of contributions shows an enthusiastic level of support for the county executive, Temporiti said.

In a statement Corrigan said volunteer support and resources he has received thus far has been overwhelming. “This election is clearly going to be different from the past,” he said.

Corrigan has said he plans to raise $1 million for his campaign.

In most elections for county executive candidates of the party out of power have obtained little money or support from their party. But the rally announcing Corrigan’s candidacy drew some state party officials and many Republican state senators from the St. Louis area.

Dooley reported spending $38,515.21 in the reporting period. Corrigan said he spent $20,844.02. Corrigan conducted a poll. Dooley will do so later, Temporiti said.

Among donors to Dooley were developers Capitol Land Co., DCM Group, Gary Grewe, JHB Properties, E.M. Harris Construction; Hutkin Development Co.; Koman Group, an affiliate of McBride and Son, Medve Group, Sachs Properties and Steve Stogel. Edward Griesedieck, a zoning attorney, also contributed.

Bob Baer, president and chief executive officer of Metro, and several other executives of Metro gave money to Dooley, as did Anheuser Busch Cos. Inc.; a political action committee for AT&T; former County Councilwoman Edith Cunnane, R-Creve Coeur; Emerson Electric; Henry Givens, president of Harris-Stowe State College; Edward and Margie Imo, owners of Imo’s pizza; Kathleen Ratcliffe, director of the Convention and Visitors Commission; US Bancorp and Fred Weber Inc.

Several attorneys, builders, and political action committees for construction trade unions made donations.

Among donors to Corrigan were C.L. Smith Co. of St. Louis, Hunter Engineering Co., former St. Louis County Executive Gene McNary, now executive director of the Missouri Gaming Commission; numerous attorneys with the Armstrong Teasdale law firm, where Corrigan is member of the firm’s executive committee, and attorneys with several other law firms.

Drury Development Corp. donated $5,000 to Dooley. It and two affiliates contributed $20,000 to Corrigan.