DeVos dark money group funnels maximum $2,600 contribution to Ben Baker campaign

The name of the biggest contributor to Neosho Mayor Ben Baker's campaign for 160th District State Representative this month does not appear anywhere on his 8-days-before election report filed today with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

There is absolutely no doubt that the American Federation for Children, a dark money group launched by the family of U. S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, contributed $2,600 to Baker. The American Federation for Children is a group that supports educational vouchers and the privatization of schools and the weakening of public education.



Only it was done through a middle man, namely the Brush Fires PAC, which has received $83,000 of the $85,000 it has reported this year, and all $40,000 since the primary election from the DeVos group.

The Brush Fires PAC, which lists a Webb City address, made only one contribution, according to its 8-days-before-election filing- the $2,600 contribution to Baker.

Despite the contribution, it appears the Brush Fires PAC and the American Federation for Children must think Baker has the election in the bag. The DeVos group, using Brush Fires as the middle man, spent $10,042.06 for advertising supporting Baker during the final days of Baker's Republican primary campaign against Raleigh Drue Ritter and David Osburn. The money was more than Brush Fires spent on any candidate, including the unsuccessful candidacy of Robert Stokes of Carl Junction.

Though contributions are limited to $2,600, committees can spend any amount they want to support or oppose a candidate or ballot issue.

Unless a last minute buy is forthcoming, which is still possible since the primary buy came less than a week before the election, the DeVos group does not appear to be spending any money on advertising promoting their favored candidate.

Baker is opposed by Neosho businesswoman Angela Thomas, a Democrat, in next Tuesday's election.

The Brush Fires filing shows the PAC is spending $38,000 to support six GOP candidates, with the largest amount, $8,000, supporting the campaigns of Mark Matthieson, Maryland Heights, in the 70th District and Steve Helms, Springfield, in the 135th District.

Though Baker says almost nothing about education on his website.

As a professor and dean of students (Baker is an instructor at Ozark Bible Institute), I understand the importance of a good education. I will fight for excellence in education for all Missouri children.

Baker passed up two recent opportunities to explain his stance on educational issues to the public, failing to show for forums at the Neosho Public Library and Crowder College.

Other contributions to Baker campaign

Baker received $7,620.36 during October and spent $3,541.55, leaving him with $7,596.71 in the bank.

Among his contributors:

Rural Telecommunications PAC $500

Missouri Bankers Association Ozark Region $300

Southwest Missouri Leadership PAC $1,000

Viceroy PAC, St. Louis $200

Randy Brown, Diamond $1,000

Thomas Lake, Twin Oaks Cabinets, Neosho $500

Scott Wade, Certified Express Logistics, Neosho $500

Angela Thomas campaign

Thomas' 8-days-before election report shows she received $5,173.84 in October and spent $3,256.70, leaving her with $4,174.71.

All of her contributions came as a result of an October 20 fund raiser at the Granby Community Center.

Among Thomas' largest contributors:

IBEW Local 53 $1,000

Kent Farnsworth, Neosho $750

Elliott Denniston, Webb City, $634