Fri, Jul 18 2008
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Published January 23, 2008 04:30 pm - Exactly how many questions were created when Gov. Matt Blunt announced he wouldn’t run for office again? Try millions — one for each dollar sitting in a campaign fund-raising account.  Area Blunt donors cite disappointment w/ link to Missourians for Matt Blunt Inc. contributions and expenditures By Joe Hadsall jhadsall@joplinglobe.com Exactly how many questions were created when Gov. Matt Blunt announced he wouldn’t run for office again? Try millions — one for each dollar sitting in a campaign fund-raising account. Donors to Blunt’s 2008 campaign counted themselves among the most shocked by his sudden announcement Tuesday. “I’m disappointed,” said Phil Hutchens, who donated the maximum amount of $1,275 through his business, Hutchens Construction of Cassville. “He’s a good man. I wish he would have chosen to run for another term.” Glenn Brown, of Diamond, also gave Blunt $1,275 during the most recent reporting period. He, too, said he was disappointed. “He had been doing a great job,” Brown said. “He brought lots of jobs back to the state, he took care of a major deficit and did a lot of other good things.” Blunt did not provide new information about his decision during a news conference Wednesday. He said he was “absolutely at peace” with his decision and had no intention of resigning before the last day of his term. Blunt said he plans to return much of the $4 million he has on hand in a campaign fund. About $2.3 million of the total must be refunded under a court ruling that cited that amount as exceeding state limits on contributions. Joe Carroll, director of campaign finance for the Missouri Ethics Commission, said Blunt has several options for what he could do with the rest of the money. “Missouri law states that he can give to another committee within the fund-raising limits,” Carroll said. “He could also give it to any charity, nonprofit group or civic organization.” Blunt also could give money back to the donors, Carroll said. The money would be refunded in proportionate amounts to what a donor gave compared with the final total. Carroll said Blunt could not convert the funds for his own personal use or use them to seek federal office. “You can bring federal money to a state office, but you can’t take state money to a federal office,” he said. “That’s a federal prohibition, not ours.” 
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