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Top State Senate Races: A Week in Review

SD 19 – Webber/Rowden

Rowden ad challenges Webber on public safety

Rep. Caleb Rowden has launched an attack against Rep. Stephen Webber, his Democratic opponent for the 19th District Senate seat, criticizing Webber for votes that Rowden says could have made mid-Missouri less safe for kids.

An ad released by Rowden focuses on Webber votes on bills relating to tougher punishment for sex predators.

https://themissouritimes.com/34974/rowden-ad-challenges-webber-public-safety/

Rowden responds to Webber attacks on his family

“Stephen Webber’s latest attack ads have hit an all new low in a political season that has seen that bar drastically lowered.  Stephen Webber is purposely trying to mislead Mid-Missouri voters. My wife, my father and I are all small business owners, something we are proud of. Our companies have never received a single penny in taxpayer dollars. The insinuation that I used my position to influence the decisions made by private businesses is a blatant lie and beneath someone holding public office. I respect Stephen enough not to bring his family into this campaign. It is unfortunate he doesn’t share that respect.”

https://themissouritimes.com/35061/statement-caleb-rowden-responds-stephen-webbers-attack-family/

New Webber video on military service

Webber released a new video this week about his service in the Marine Corps, including an interview with his mother.

New Rowden ads

Both ads feature his family and focus on his vision for the Senate and his accomplishments in the House. One includes a quick dig at Webber for being absent during votes in the House.

Webber endorsed by Columbia Daily Tribune

Rowden attends award ceremony with Kinder, Blunt and Basye


The Columbia Daily Tribune fact checked some recent ads from Webber and Rowden http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/politics/elections/fact-check-webber-rowden-attack-ads-in-th-senate-race/article_e9b328f7-de1e-56df-b994-d0af5c2476d8.html

The Columbia Missourian profiled both candidates this week.

Webber:

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/elections/medicaid-expansion-education-and-anti-discrimination-bills-top-webber-s/article_60ffe068-8412-11e6-a679-67047fb5d2ac.html

Rowden:

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/elections/rowden-says-jefferson-city-needs-independent-thinker-like-him/article_8d8a25da-96eb-11e6-8715-07137c4270c4.html

$5,000+ contributions

MECID Report Filed Committee Contribution Information Contribution Date Amount
C081079 10/26/2016 CITIZENS FOR STEPHEN WEBBER Missouri State Democratic Committee 208 Madison Street Jefferson City MO 65101 10/25/2016 $10,969.88
C081079 10/26/2016 CITIZENS FOR STEPHEN WEBBER Friends for Gina Walsh 1246 Bakewell Drive 3rd Floor St Louis MO 63137 10/24/2016 $50,000.00
C081079 10/28/2016 CITIZENS FOR STEPHEN WEBBER Missouri State Democratic Committee 208 Madison Street Jefferson City MO 65101 10/28/2016 $10,969.88
C081079 10/28/2016 CITIZENS FOR STEPHEN WEBBER Missouri State Democratic Committee 208 Madison Street Jefferson City MO 65101 10/28/2016 $13,639.00
C111215 10/24/2016 FRIENDS OF CALEB ROWDEN Missouri Senate Campaign Committee PO Box 754 Jefferson City MO 65102 10/24/2016 $12,100.00

SD 1 – Sifton/Jotte

Jotte held a Women for Jotte event this week:

Sifton released a new ad Friday

The ad focuses on his commitment to public safety and his endorsement by the FOP.

Candidate questionnaire

Both candidates answered questions about their views for the Call Newspapers: http://www.callnewspapers.com/Articles-Impact-News-i-2016-10-26-284752.112112-Election-2016-Former-Webster-Groves-City-Council-member-challenges-Sifton-for-1st-District-Senate-seat.html

Right-to-Work impact

Jason Rosenbaum broke down how the race could affect Right-to-Work going forward:

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/trail-how-south-county-legislative-races-could-matter-right-work-fight#stream/0

$5,000+ donations:

MECID Report Filed Committee Contribution Information Contribution Date Amount
C091061 10/26/2016 SCOTT SIFTON FOR MISSOURI Eastern Missouri Laborers’ Educational & Benevolent Fund 3450 Hollenberg Drive Bridgeton MO 63044 10/25/2016 $15,000.00
C091061 10/26/2016 SCOTT SIFTON FOR MISSOURI Missouri State Democratic Committee 208 Madison Street Jefferson City MO 65101 10/24/2016 $14,268.69
C161137 10/27/2016 COMMITTEE TO ELECT RANDY JOTTE Committee to Elect Ron Richard PO Box 2523 Joplin MO 64803 10/26/2016 $30,000.00
C161137 10/27/2016 COMMITTEE TO ELECT RANDY JOTTE Eastern Missouri Senate PAC 3220 W. Edgewood Ste. E Jefferson City MO 65109 10/26/2016 $40,000.00

SD 11 – Rizzo / Lasater

Lasater receives $250k for Senate campaign

Republican leaders in Missouri are throwing their support – and money – behind former state representative Brent Lasater via a political action committee targeting the district.

  • Those contributions, all donated within the month, to the Kansas City Missouri Republican Senate PAC add up to $250,000.
  • Three donations of $50,000 each came from Citizens for Jay Wasson, Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe, and southwest Missouri millionaire and political activist David Humphreys.
  • The fourth and largest contribution comes from the Committee to Elect Ron Richard, which donated $100,000 on October 22nd.

https://themissouritimes.com/34911/lasater-receives-250k-senate-campaign/

Lasater spoke to KMBC

http://www.kmbc.com/article/brent-lasater-talks-about-race-for-missouri-senate-seat/7350440

$5,000+ contributions:

MECID Report Filed Committee Contribution Information Contribution Date Amount
C121330 10/23/2016 RIZZO FOR MISSOURI Friends for Gina Walsh 1246 Bakewell Drive St Louis MO 63137 10/22/2016 $5,100.00
C121330 10/23/2016 RIZZO FOR MISSOURI Safer Families For Missouri PO Box 1792 Jefferson City MO 65102 10/22/2016 $5,001.00
C121330 10/25/2016 RIZZO FOR MISSOURI Committee to Elect Jake Hummel 3841 Holly Hills Blvd St Louis MO 63116 10/24/2016 $5,001.00
C121330 10/26/2016 RIZZO FOR MISSOURI Friends for Gina Walsh 1246 Bakewell Drive St Louis MO 63137 10/26/2016 $10,000.00

SD 17 – Silvey / Bechthold

Silvey/Bechthold Senate race takes strange turn two weeks out

  • In July of 2004, a restraining order was filed against Bechthold by a college ex-girlfriendduring his time as a student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Bechthold‘s ex-girlfriend, whose name is not released on Case.net, wrote in her initial petition for an order of protection that Bechthold had in April of that year sent her harassing emails, attempted to physically harm her and had stalked her.
  • Bechthold, a U.S. Army veteran who has served since 2010, made several questionable Facebook posts on July 14 that were sexual in nature. Among these were descriptions of the historical diagnosis of hysteria for women, Vlad the Impaler’s torture practices, and a story about President Lyndon B. Johnson exposing himself during an interview, among others.
  • But perhaps the oddest of the events begins with a series of private Facebook messages that Bechthold sent to Silvey during the appeals process of their lawsuit. Bechthold had reached out to Silvey in the courthouse where the two were litigating and requested to speak with Silvey as a constituent after the trial had ended.
  • After Silvey did not return the messages, Bechthold then showed up at Silvey’s residence unannounced Sept. 8.

https://themissouritimes.com/34912/silvey-bechthold-senate-race-takes-strange-turn-two-weeks/

Bechthold pursues religious conversation with Silvey

Here are the Facebook messages printed in the story above. They were provided by both candidates.

https://themissouritimes.com/35005/bechthold-pursues-religious-conversation-with-silvey/

Silvey meets with Kit Bond:

Silvey attends energy hearing:

Kansas City Star voter guide capsule:

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/community/816-north/article110439527.html