This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Oct. 13, 2011 - Texas Gov. Rick Perry will be in town today for a fundraising luncheon at the Frontenac Hilton, with a ticket price of $2,500 apiece.
Several of the region's most prominent Republican donors are on the host committee, including:
- former Ambassador Stephen Brauer;
- former Anheuser Busch chairman August A. Busch III;
- financier Rex Sinquefield;
- brothers Tim and Charles Drury Jr., members the family owning the chain of Drury hotels
- contractor Greg Hoberock of Union, Mo.
- Republican consultant James Harris.
All have agreed be "bundlers," meaning they will help raise additional money for Perry from other friends and relatives. Under federal campaign-finance restrictions, indlvidual donors can give no more than $2,500 to a particular candidate.
Many of the noted donors, such as Sinquefield, favor Perry's stance against income taxes.
Perry was here in June for a fundraising event at Brauer's estate, Hunter Farms, to help raise money for Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, a Republican expected to challenge Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, in 2012.
Today's visit will be Perry's first stop in the state to raise money for his own presidential campaign, organizers say.
Perry's success at assembling such a bloc of prominent St. Louis donors could be unsettling to prominent area Republicans who back the perceived GOP frontrunner for the presidential nomination, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Romney's local list includes Sam Fox, founder of Harbour Group. Fox long was the state's biggest individual Republican donor, until St. Louis native Sinquefield moved back to the region a few years ago and swiftly began contributing to various politicians -- particularly in the Missouri General Assembly.
After the lunch, Perry is scheduled to meet with some state legislators, including House Speaker Steve Tilley, R-Perryville. Tilley, who has raised significant sums from Sinquefield, has yet to endorse a presidential hopeful.
