SPRINGFIELD – Fifth District appellate court candidate Kevin Hoerner spent $14,496.90 on itemized bills at restaurants and taverns this year through Sept. 30, state election board records show.
Hoerner also spent $622.62 in March at Schnucks.
In total itemized spending of $113,076.61, that amount exceeds 13 percent.
St. Clair County Associate Judge Christopher Kolker, running for circuit judge, spent $6,927.06 on itemized bills at restaurants and taverns.
In total itemized spending of $45,787.19, that amount equals 15 percent.
Hoerner paid $3,490 to Mr. BBQ’s Rib Shack in Millstadt in March.
He paid $4,897.10 to Lux Bar of Chicago for a fundraiser in August.
He paid $2,000 to Lieferbrau of Red Bud for an event in September.
In the Soulard district of St. Louis, he paid $989.16 in a visit to John D. McGurk’s and $512.50 in a visit to Mission Taco Joint.
He paid five bills at Fletcher’s in Belleville for $278.25, five at Tavern on the Main in Belleville for $336.62, and five at Nothing Bundt Cake in Fairview Heights for $235.
He paid two at Jimmy John’s, for $534.45.
In Red Bud, he paid $439.69 for a visit at Office Bar and Grill and $394.48 for a visit to Opera House Bistro.
In Belleville, he paid $232.15 for a visit to Corner Chill and $157.50 for a visit to Tim and Joe’s Tavern.
He also spent $1,900 sponsoring golf tournaments.
Kolker paid six bills at Fairview Lounge in Fairview Heights, for $772.51.
He paid five bills at Spike's in Belleville for $832.93 and five at Tavern on the Main, for $497.21.
He paid four at Show Me's in Fairview Heights, for $678.91.
He paid three at Agostino’s in Fairview Heights, for $515.34.
He paid three at Houlihan’s in Fairview Heights, for $174.55.
He paid two at Porter’s Steakhouse in Collinsville, for $878.64, and two at Seven in Belleville, for $167.11.
In single visits, he paid $452.33 at Woody’s in Caseyville, $298.93 at Lucky’s Bar and Grill in Swansea, $215.97 at Chop House in O’Fallon, $185.69 at Good Tymes Saloon in Dupo, and $167.66 at TBD in Fairview Heights.
Kolker also bought groceries at Schnuck’s markets, $650.38 in April.
Hoerner, a Democrat, faces Republican Justice David Overstreet in next week’s election.
The campaign committee for Overstreet spent less than 3 percent of its total on food and/or drinks. Friends of Justice Overstreet has raised closed to $67,000 this year; it spent $800 on "fundraising food" at Doubletree Hotel in Collinsville in June and $1,200 at Green Hills Golf Club in Mt. Vernon in September.
Kolker's Republican opponent, Laninya Cason, has not organized a campaign finance committee.