State representative candidate Shamed Dogan, a Republican running in the south St. Louis County district being vacated by Neal St. Onge, is holding a fundraiser tonight at 6:00 PM at Mandarin, 44 Maryland Plaza, in the Central West End.

For your $25 ticket, you will receive two free drinks during the event, and Mandarin is offering specials for those who hang out afterwards.

State Rep. Rodney Hubbard*, a candidate for the 5th District state senate seat soon to be vacated by the term-limited Sen. Maida Coleman, is holding one of the largest political fundraisers of the year this week.

National recording artist Nelly and his band of St. Lunatics are expected to make appearances, as are hometown rappers Jibbs and Vic Damone. Local political heavyweights, former mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr.; Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce; Aldermanic President Lewis Reed; and License Collector Mike McMillan, headline the host committee.

“We’re trying to really bring our region’s successful young hip-hop entrepreneurs into the political arena,” said Hubbard, who at 35 years-old considers himself part of the hip-hop generation.

“I appreciate the support of these artists who could spend their Thursday night anywhere in the world,” said Hubbard. “To come home to St. Louis to support my senate campaign means a lot.”

Congressman Lacy Clay, who has endorsed Hubbard, and Dr. Ben Chavis, former head of the national NAACP and president of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, are also expected at the event. Chavis, who co-founded the Hip-Hop Summit with Russell Simmons, is a longtime supporter of Hubbard and of involving the hip-hop generation more in the political process.

Clay and Chavis in Washington D.C.

The event will be Thursday night, from 9:00 until midnight, at J. Bucks, 1000 Clark Ave. in downtown St. Louis. Tickets are open to the general public at just $25. Tickets to an 8:00 VIP event are $100.

Listen to the radio commercial:

Here’s the invitation. Click to enlarge.

* Rodney Hubbard is a client of A D French and Associates (campaign management)

Ken and Pat Ortmann are generous with the chili, but stingy with the secret recipes.

Click To Play

State Treasurer Sarah Steelman announced today that the Carpenters’ District Council of Greater St. Louis had endorsed her re-election bid.

“We don’t normally endorse candidates before the filing date closes, but we decided to make an exception in this race because Sarah Steelman has demonstrated the qualities we expect from our elected officials,” said Terry Nelson, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Council.

Steelman is also receiving the support of a group of St. Louis African-American businessmen.

David Stewart, of Worldwide Technology; Charles Kirkwood, of Midwestern Construction; entrepreneur and political operative Tim Person; and former state representative Sherman Parker are hosting a fundraiser for Steelman on December 12.

The event will be at the offices of Midwestern, 1415 Mullanphy, from 4:30 to 6:30 PM.

St. Louis Congressman Lacy Clay was all smiles Friday night as he and visiting House majority whip Congressman James E. Clyburn (D-SC) helped raised over $100,000 for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The fundraiser was held at the home of Bob and Ellen Clark. Bob Clark is the founder, chairman and CEO of Clayco Construction Company.

Pictured are Lewis McKinney, an executive with Anheuser-Busch, James Clyburn and Clay.

Four races.
$11.5 million in the bank.
And it’s only October.

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TOO MUCH FUN INDICTING - U.S. Attorney and former Speaker of the Missouri House Catherine Hanaway says she is not going to run for Attorney General, leaving the path to the Republican nomination clear for Kirkwood Senator Mike Gibbons, who’ll be making his official announcement Saturday Morning. On the Democratic side, the word is that the blue candidates (even the recently-turned-blue frontrunner Chris Koster) like their chances against Gibbons much better than Hanaway.

ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS - Next week is going to be all about who’s got the duckets and from whom said duckets came. After raising $121,738 in the last three months, Lt. Gov candidate Sam Page now has a reported $350,000 in the bank. After raising just $1,675 this quarter, possible state senate candidate Tom Villa now has $27K on hand. As we reported earlier, Shamed Dogan raised over $12,000 this quarter.

CALLING ALL POETS - Matt Blunt is looking for a poet laureate for Missouri, and he wants your help. Citizens have until December 1st to nominate their fellow Missourians for the position. The laureate is responsible for promoting arts in Missouri through appearances at libraries and schools. Click here to submit your favorite local wordsmith.

Missouri Attorney General candidate Margaret Donnelly is holding her first St. Louis fundraiser tonight at 8025 Maryland Avenue. The event starts at 5:30.

So far, over 150 people are co-hosting the event. The cost for the evening is $1,275 for hosts, $500 for sponsors and $250 for friends.

UPDATE: Not really the ideal way to end a fundraiser (From the Political Fix):

So packed that the event set off the fire alarm.

The ear-splitting sound came just as folks continued to eat and right before the speeches. The upshot: all those who were able had to walk down 18 flights of stairs. Donnelly, D-Richmond Heights, stayed on the roof with those who couldn’t.

Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly is known for his sharp dress and smooth style, and tonight for only $500 you too can be a Cool Cat like F.X. himself.

Daly is hosting a jazz-themed fundraiser tonight Steinberg Rink in Forest Park. Those who contribute $50 can call themselves “Hipsters”; $250 get you to the “Daddy-O” stage; and real players can skip the $500 “Cool Cat” level and jump right to “18 Karat” heights for a mere $1,275.

The shindig begins at 5:30 and ends at 7:30, which seems pretty early for hipsters and Daddy-Os.

From the Missouri Ethics Commission…

Click to enlarge