Boone Hospital trustee candidates raise most money in Boone County
A five-year term on the Boone Hospital Board of Trustees has brought in five figures worth of campaign donations.
The two candidates for hospital board have raised more money for their race than the seven candidates for Columbia Public Schools’ Board of Education and the Columbia City Council combined.
Dr. Mark Dempsey of PEAK Sports Performance and Greg Steinhoff of Veterans United are seeking the seat left open by Bob Wagner this April. Dempsey raised $22,672.55 so far, while Steinhoff has collected $26,600. The seven other candidates have raised $46,748.47.
The two candidates continued to receive donations this week. The largest came from Cape Aerospace Jets, LLC. The company’s address is listed in southeast Missouri’s Cape Gireardeau, and business records link the company to Dr. William Kapp III. Kapp is also the founder and chairman of Landmark Hospitals, a private company located in Columbia. Landmark Hospital’s website describes itself as a “regional referral center” that focuses on patients discharged from the hospital but still in need of care.
Dempsey said Kapp was a friend of his that practices in southeast Missouri. He said he did not feel there was a conflict of interest in receiving a donation from a hospital founder.
“It’s really Dr. Kapp that made the donation to my campaign, and they don’t compete with Boone Hospital,” Dempsey told ABC 17 News. “Like me, they’re private.”
Kapp did not return a call seeking comment about his donation or use of Cape Aerospace Jets to make the donation.
Dempsey also received a $1,000 donation from Yellowfin Investments, LLC on Thursday. The company’s address is the same as Real Equity Management, the company that manages the Brookside apartment complexes. Company spokesman Jack Cardetti said Dempsey rents space from them for his business.
Steinhoff received his largest sums of money from Brant and Brock Bukowsky, co-founders of Veterans United Home Loans, along with Barry and Bob Orschelen.
Dempsey’s company, Central Missouri Physical Therapy, has contributed more than $19,000 so far to his campaign.
