Special interests contribute to Hunter's Carl Junction School Board campaign

I suppose the word must have finally reached everyone about the importance of education in today's society.

I had never realized, however, that the hub of educational activity in Missouri is in my neighbor town of Carl Junction. According to documents filed in the Jasper County Clerk's office, the Missouri Hospital Association, Partners for Leadership, Travelers Indemnity, and let's not forget the casinos- Penn National Gaming, all made maximum $325 contributions to the R-1 Board of Education candidacy of Rep. Steve Hunter.

Hunter terminated his Grassroots for Hunter committee on the statewide level in October, declaring that he would run for the Carl Junction R-1 Board of Education. Board candidates file their campaign reports locally and not with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Hunter's school board race received no contributions in October or January, but the pace picked up in his April filing. In addition to the maximum contributions listed above, Hunter received $300 apiece from the Missouri Association of Insurance Agents and Bank of America, $100 from Ride-Away Credit, and $450 from the 127th District Legislative Committee.

The disclosure report shows Hunter received $2,825 during the first three months of 2008, and spent $3,382.28, leaving him with $12,569.77, considerably more than is usually spent on a school board race.

Hunter has spent a considerable amount of money since October, when he terminated his state committee with $25,224.88 in the bank.
Among his expenditures:

-$1,350 to Kenny Hulshof's campaign for governor
-$325 to Rep. Marilyn Ruestman
-$650 to Purgason and Friends
-A $4,000 donation to Survey St. Louis
-$325 to Friends of Mark Parker
-$25 to the National Rifle Association
-$30 for membership in the Missouri Farm Bureau
-$237 to Capital One for rooms for the Summer Caucus and Canoe Trip
-A $100 donation to the Missouri College Republicans
-A $30 donation to the Joplin Trails Association
-$49.95 for a subscription to Wine Spectator magazine

And for those looking for at least one expenditure that can be remotely connected to Hunter's efforts to land a post on a public school board, Hunter provides it with $25 for a membership in the Show-Me Institute, retired billionaire Rex Sinquefield's think tank, which promotes educational vouchers.