later during the summer of 2011. Chapman approached Kinder and asked to take a photo with him. The photo was then published when The Riverfront Times ran Chapman's speculative story where Chapman claimed Kinder visited her club in the early to mid 90s when he was a state senator. Kinder responded and said he had visited the club around 1994 and met Chapman, and that he had not seen her again until the chance encounter in 2011. Chapman confirmed that the two had not spoken since the mid 90s until she saw him in 2011 and approached him to take a picture. Kinder said that, sometime around 1994, after going to the club he decided not to go back because it was inconsistent with how he had been raised. Kinder stated that Chapman's story was part of a "partisan smear" to derail his campaign for Governor. Kinder further said that Democrats tried to use similar tactics against him in his 2008 campaign for Lieutenant Governor. Hotel expenses and repayment In April 2011, the St. Louis Post Dispatch published a story stating that Kinder (who has a home in Cape Girardeau and an office in Jefferson City) charged the taxpayers over $35,000 for at least 329 nights at hotels in St. Louis and St. Louis County since 2006. Kinder responded that he had been audited twice, both times by Democratic state auditors, and no concerns were raised about any of the hotel stays. Kinder stated that he always paid the government rate, typically $105/night, during his stays at the Chase Park Plaza, the Four Seasons, the Ritz-Carlton and elsewhere. He further stated, "There were many times I'd attempt to stay at other [lesser known] hotels, The Sheraton, The Westin, The Renaissance Grand, some Hampton Inns and they would have a rate higher than the $105 that I was staying with." Kinder defended the stays as fulfillment of official government duties as Lt Governor; meetings, events, and state business that he routinely scheduled during his weekly drive home to Cape Girardeau from Jefferson City. Kinder maintained that all of the overnight stays were proper, and tied to official events. He acknowledged that on occasion he attended campaign or personal events the same days he was in the area as a practice of good financial stewardship. Kinder announced that he would repay the state $35,050 for hotel costs incurred while traveling in the