The political battle for the Cole County Division 4 circuit judge's job generated more than $158,000 in campaign contributions to the candidates during October - making it the most expensive during the month.
Based on the reports due by 5 p.m. Monday, Republican Brian Stumpe raised $104,250 between Oct. 1 and Oct. 27 - with $100,000 of that donated by the Republican State Leadership Committee's Missouri political action committee.
The Washington, D.C.,-based national committee also gave another $181,550 to its Missouri PAC - including $12,800 transferred on Monday.
The Missouri PAC reported Monday it had spent $171,396 in campaign advertising and postage costs urging Cole County voters to vote against incumbent Circuit Judge Pat Joyce, a Democrat, in next week's elections.
The PAC also gave $10,000 to the Friends of Diehl Committee, which supports state Rep. John Diehl, R-Town and Country, who's expected to be the next Missouri House speaker.
In addition to the RSLC money, Stumpe reported getting $3,000 from the Friends for Munzlinger Committee, which mainly supports state Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, and $450 from attorneys - including $250 from Marc Ellinger, who also is Cole County's presiding commissioner.
Stumpe reported spend $97,745.91, mostly for advertising expenses.
He reported having $10,885.49 cash on-hand, and $12,976 of debt.
The Friends to Re-Elect Judge Pat Joyce Committee said Monday the national GOP group's donations also prompted increased contributions to Joyce's bid for a third, six-year term.
The committee reported taking in $53,852,26, and spending $30,138.86 - with much of that also going to advertising.
Some of Joyce's opponents have questioned the ethics of her taking donations from attorneys, because many of them have argued cases before her and would do so, again, if she wins re-election.
But that complaint didn't slow down the attorney's contributions, which included $41,620 from 100 different attorneys or law firms during October's first 27 days. The largest of those included three contributions for $2,500 each; nine contributions for $1,000; 28 donations of $500; and 25 donations of $250.
(Editor's Note: See the correction posted below this article.)
Joyce reported having $40,012.47 cash on-hand, and no debt after paying off a $195 debt.
• State Rep. Jeanie Riddle, R-Mokane - seeking election as the new 10th District senator - reported the third highest donation totals for the month, with $42,767.04. Her largest donation was $15,500 from the Missouri Senate Campaign Committee.
Riddle reported spending $212,212.07, leaving $100,650.50 cash and $200 in outstanding loans.
Rep. Ed Schieffer, D-Troy, raised $18,404.60 - including $10,000 from the Missouri Democratic Legislative Committee - and spending $18,397.37 in the race. He reported $7,594.08 cash on-hand Monday.
• Incumbent state Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, reported the fourth highest income for the month, with $41,538.32 - including two $5,000 donations from the Right Choice Managed Care Association and the Missouri Health Care Association PAC. He also reported another $4,500 from the group Grow Missouri.
Kehoe spent $164,027.08, and had $90,397.83 cash on-hand.
The report for challenger Mollie Freebairn, D-Jefferson City, had not been posted Monday night on the Missouri Ethics Commission website.
• Former state Rep. Gracia Backer, D-New Bloomfield, raised $17,566.06 in October, and spent $42,739.34 in her bid to win the 49th District seat currently held by Riddle. Backer's largest donation, $5,000, came from the Missouri Democratic Party.
She reported $22,815.31 on-hand, and a $5,000 loan.
Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, reported raising $60,639.91 - including $37,434.91 in "in-kind" donations. The House Republican Campaign Committee donated $18,872.82 of that in-kind help.
His largest money contribution was $5,000 from the Missouri Club for Growth.
Fitzwater reported spending $17,005.62, and had $2,175.95 in debt.
• Incumbent Rep. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, reported raising $20,107, including $2,500 from Missourians for Excellence In Government. He spent $3,353.42, and had $49,304.67 on-hand.
His challenger, Michael Eberle of the Constitution Party, reported having $100 on-hand, with no receipts or expenditures.
Cole County races
The race for Cole County prosecutor led the money flow in the October reporting.
Independent candidate Anji Gandhi reported raising $19,385 - including a $15,000 loan from her husband, Dr. Rodd Hillard.
She spent $37,532.13, had $6,921.19 cash on-hand and that $15,000 debt.
Incumbent Republican Mark Richardson reported raising $4, 175 and spending $2,388.86.
He had $6,629.87 on-hand and a $1,105.82 debt.
• Democrat Susan Cook reported collecting $1,425 in donations and spending $2,441.97 in the race for county clerk, to succeed Republican Marvin Register, who's retiring.
Cook reported $915.07 on-hand.
Republican Steve Korsmeyer reported $550 in donations and no expenses in October, with $3,146.39 on-hand and a $2,218.68 debt.
• Incumbent Recorder of Deeds Larry Rademan reported limited activity - neither collecting or spending more than $500.
Republican Ralph Bray said he collected $1,528.85 during October, and spent $5,218.23. He had $1,805.07 on-hand.
Correction: Between Oct. 1 and Oct. 27, incumbent Cole County Circuit Judge Pat Joyce received nine donations from lawyers or law firms in Cole County, five from attorneys or firms in other Mid-Missouri counties, 77 from lawyers or firms in other Missouri counties and four from out of state. The information was reported incorrectly in Tuesday's News Tribune.