This article first appeaed in the St. Louis Beacon, July 12, 2012 - Attorney General Chris Koster snagged a big contribution Thursday from Sam Fox, a former ambassador who is one of the state’s most generous donors to Republicans.
The Democratic statewide officeholder – who switched his party affiliation in 2007 – received a $50,000 donation from Fox, according to the Missouri Ethics Commission. As the Beacon reported earlier this week, Fox, the founder of the Harbour Group, was one of the top individual contributors from Missouri to state and federal campaigns and causes.
At first glance, Fox’s donation may seem unusual since he’s given primarily to Republican candidates over the years. But Fox’s wife Marilyn Fox sent Koster $25,000 in 2008, even after the then-state senator defected from the Republican Party. She also gave Koster a $5,000 donation in 2011.
(In a statement to the Beacon for the Power Players story, Fox said, "All of us should be involved in encouraging and supporting the very best who seek public office. And when I say every American, I mean every American, regardless if their political philosophy is that of a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent.")
Koster also advocated for embryonic stem cell research in the mid-2000s. Both Sam and Marilyn Fox gave generously to political action committees supportive of such research in the past.
Ed Martin, a St. Louis Republican angling to unseat Koster, has been an outspoken opponent of embryonic stem cell research. Fox's donation could have an impact on Martin's fundraising, by influencing other prominent Republican donors who share Fox's views on stem-cell research.
(Fox is a donor to the St. Louis Beacon.)
Martin, whorecently started running television ads, is squaring off against Livingston County Prosecutor Adam Warren in the Republican primary. Koster has no competition in the Democratic primary.
