By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

The trio of candidates who have thrown their hat into the political ring for the Bootheel’s seat in the state senate have been busy this spring and summer on the campaign fundraising trail.

Republicans Billy Pat Wright of Dexter and Jeff Shawan of Poplar Bluff and Democrat Terry Swinger of Caruthersville have all announced they will seek the seat vacated by State Senator Rob Mayer of Dexter in the 2012 election. Mayer is unable to run for another term in the Missouri General Assembly because of term limits.

All three candidates filed quarterly reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission for the second quarter of the year. The reports were due to the MEC by midnight, July 15.

While Swinger, who currently serves District 162 in the Missouri House of Representatives, did the least amount of fundraising during the quarter, he still has the largest campaign chest.

Swinger reported only three donations in the quarter, the largest from the Missouri Optometric PAC in Jefferson City for $5,000. In total, Swinger ended the quarter with a balance of cash on hand of $73,238.64.

Swinger is the only Democrat who has, to date, expressed an intention to run for the Bootheel state senate seat.

Republican Billy Pat Wright, who serves District 154 in the Missouri House, received $13,720 in cash donations and $1,050 in-kind donations during the quarter for a total of $14,760. Wright reported ending the quarter with $14,480.83 cash on hand.

Wright had several large contributors who gave his campaigning committee $1,000 or more during the quarter. Those donors were Bill Perkins, Dexter, $1,000; James Lincoln and Associates, Sikeston, $2,000; Heartland Furniture and Appliance, Poplar Bluff, $1,000; Autry Morlan Chevrolet, Cadillac, Dexter, $1,000; and Bill Foster, Jefferson City, $1,000.

Shawan, who is a newcomer to regional politics, reported receiving a total of $29,329, 40 in donations during the quarter. Unlike Swinger and Wright, Shawan had a hefty balance of in-kind donations. Of his total fundraising efforts in the quarter, Shawan reported $13,266 in in-kind gifts.

In-kind gifts Shawan received included $4,498 in three donations from Ben Adkins of Poplar Bluff; and Tom Peluso of Peluso Photography, Poplar Bluff, $1,755.

Other large contributors for Shawan include Daniel Coffman, Poplar Bluff, $1,000; Gary Simmons, Poplar Bluff, $500; James Seawright, Gardner, Kans., $500; Betty Pruitt, Poplar Bluff, $500; John Greer, Poplar Bluff, $500; Paul and Liz Shawan, $500; Larry Hillis, Poplar Bluff, $500.

Shawan had a balance at the end of the quarter of $28,738.11 including a loan of $10,000 from Shawan to his campaign that was reported to the Ethics Commission earlier in the month.

District 25 covers seven counties -- Butler, Ripley, Wayne, Stoddard, Dunklin, New Madrid and Pemiscot. The legislative redistricting process may include some boundary changes before the 2012 election.

Photo Above: Top: State Rep Terry Swinger, D-Caruthersville; Middle: State Rep. Billy Pat Wright, R-Dexter; Bottom: Businessman Jeff Shawan, Poplar Bluff. (SMT File Photos)