Candidate Sorts Out Committee Mess Before Election

Keary Husain, who is running for a seat on the Columbia Board of Education, has cleared up problems that kept his campaign committee from filing correctly with the Missouri Ethics Commission. The commission had rejected his initial paperwork because it omitted his last name and the election date. Husain admitted he simply missed a line on the form, but once he supplied the missing details and proof of his bank accounts, the commission accepted the documents. His committee, named KEARY 4 SCHOOL BOARD, had not appeared on the Ethics Commission’s public website even though he was asking for donations and putting up campaign signs. Husain first submitted the paperwork in December, but it seems the commission never received it. When a local news reporter asked about the missing committee last week, he said he was working with the commission to get everything in order.The updated filing went live on Thursday, and now his fundraising activity is visible to voters. Husain’s story highlights how small clerical errors can delay transparency in local elections. There are four candidates vying for three open seats on the board. The current members—John Lyman, Paul Harper and April Ferrao—are seeking re‑election. Only Ferrao has met the final fundraising disclosure deadline, reporting $1, 170 on hand with $535 raised and $128 spent. Lyman’s last update was in 2023, showing $195 on hand and limited activity since. Harper had $407 on hand in February. The commission’s deadline for April candidates to update their finances is Monday, the last chance before voters head to the polls. The new filing gives Husain a clear record and allows supporters to see how his campaign is funded.