House candidates disagree over campaign finance violation allegation

The campaign of Doug Mann, Democratic candidate for Missouri’s 50th House District, has filed an ethics complaint against Republican candidate James Musgraves.

The complaint with the Missouri Ethics Commission alleges Musgraves failed to file a campaign finance report eight days before the primary election.

“The voters of Missouri’s 50th District deserve to know how James Musgraves is funding his campaign and how his campaign committee is spending its funds,” Mann campaign manager Cole Bower wrote in a news release announcing the complaint filing.

Bower asked in the release if Musgraves doesn’t follow the rules during the campaign, how would he be expected to follow rules if elected.

It’s a simple misunderstanding, Musgraves said by phone Tuesday.

“I didn’t do anything to require an eight-day report,” Musgraves said.