GOP committees pour last-minute funds into Thomas campaign

Platte County Auditor Sandra Thomas has received an $89,610 pick-me-up for her state auditor campaign during the last four days, according to Missouri Ethics Commission.
The funding, which was reported today, included $15,050 that was contributed today, and more than $80,000 from Republican committees.
According to the documents, Ms. Thomas received six small contributions, between $10 and $50 on Nov. 2, as well as $250 from Theresa Jeevanjee, Webster Groves; $1,275 from Sara Hargis, Springfield; $7,500 from the 35th Republican Legislative District Committee, and $12,750 contributions from the 17th Republican Senatorial District Committee, the 30th Republican Legislative District Committee,and the 32nd Republican Legislative District Committee.
Nov. 3 contributions included $12,750 from the 34th Republican Legislative District Committee, $7,000 from the 34th Republican Senatorial District Committee, $5,250 from the 35h Republican Legislative District Committee and $1,275 from the Freeman Physicians Group PAC, Joplin, and a $60 contribution.
Contributions arriving today included $12,250 from the 12th Senatorial District Committee, $1,275 from John C. Tlapek, Cape Girardeau; $1,275 from the Bartle Leadership Fund, $200 from Laclede County Federated Republican Women's Club, and $50 from Allen Shirley, Joplin.

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As I have noted before, it is almost impossible to tell who is really funding Sandra Thomas' campaign. The 12th Senatorial District Committee, which contributed $12,250 today, only had $950 in its account one week ago, and it likely will not have to file any documents indicating where its financial windfall came until 30 days after the election.
The treasurer for the 34th Senatorial District Committee is Matt Gerstner, who operates the lucrative St. Joseph fee office, which would presumably be under Ms. Thomas' jurisdiction if she were elected. As revealed earlier in The Turner Report, Gerstler has already personally contributed to Ms. Thomas' campaign.
The laundry operation extends to the $12,750 contribution from the 35th Republican Legislative District Committee. That committee was down to its last $50 one week ago, but received a massive infusion of $31,900 Nov. 1 and 2 from the Sixth Congressional District Committee. The Sixth Congressional District, of course, is home for Congressman Sam Graves, who has been pushing Ms. Thomas, and whose former chief of staff, Jeff Roe, runs Axiom Strategies, the consulting firm which has managed the Platte County auditor's campaign.
The 17th Republican Senatorial District Committee had absolutely no money in its accounts on Sept. 30, the last time it filed papers with the Ethics Commission, but by November it had enough to fund a maximum $12,750 contribution to Ms. Thomas.
It appears the Sixth District Congressional Committee was also at least partially responsible for the maximum $12,750 contribution given by the 30th District Republican Committee. On Nov. 1, the Congressional Committee kicked in to the 30th District Committee to the tune of $25,500, while an additional $3,250 was contributed to the committee by James Thomas, 5920 NW 96th Terrace, Kansas City, the same James Thomas who has been married to Sandra Thomas for 20 years.
The 32nd Legislative District Republican Committee had only $136.30 at the time of its last filing, Oct. 30, with the Ethics Commission, but came up with $12,750 for Ms. Thomas in the meantime. The deputy treasurer for that committee is James C. Thomas, listing the same home address as candidate Sandra Thomas.
For someone who lists not being a politician as being her chief virtue, Ms. Thomas has certainly shown a knack for playing politics.