JEFFERSON CITY -- Retired investment banker Rex Sinquefield has waded into the contentious Democratic primary in House District 37, donating $5,000 to Chris Moreno.
The donation was made on July 24 but wasn't reported until Saturday. It represents more than Moreno took in for the entire month of July, when he raised only $1,000.
Moreno, a political consultant from Lee's Summit, is facing off with Grandview Alderman Joe Runions and Mike Sager, a former state representative from Lee's Summit, in tomorrow's Democratic primary. The three are vying to represent a district that encompasses all of Grandview and parts of south Kansas City, Lee’s Summit and Raymore.
And over the past few weeks, the campaign has grown increasingly negative between Moreno and Runions.
Sinquefield has given to prominent Democrats over the years, but he is best known as a GOP mega donor. Most recently, he gave a $385,000 donation to Republican lieutenant governor hopeful Brad Lager and $150,000 to Republican secretary of state candidate Shane Schoeller.
By far his biggest donations go to political committees working on causes he believes in, such as Missouri Club for Growth, an anti-tax organization that Sinquefield gave $500,000 to in May. He's also an outspoken supporter of wholesale changes to the state's education system, including eliminating teacher tenure and establishing a tax credit program for students to attend private schools.
Update: Chris Moreno has issued a statement about Sinquefield's donation.
"While the check is dated for 7/24/2012, our bank did not give my campaign official permission to receive the check until 8/3 because of a discrepancy in the way the campaign name on the check appeared. Therefore, we reported the check in the required time frame and have proper documentation reflecting such.
"The 37th District deserves a leader that is willing to put the partisan circus and bully politics aside to bring real economic progress to Truman Corners and the rest of our district, as well as, a leader willing to stand up against government waste, unnecessary tax increases, sexual predators and in defense of second amendment rights. I am the only candidate that will do such and I am honored that Mr. Sinquefield reached across the aisle to show his support. His life story is an amazing inspiration. We look forward to election day tomorrow and then November."
