Michels, Hatcher ahead in campaign contributions

Incumbent state Sen. Chris Lauzen, seeking to keep his 25th District post, had $47,170.42 available to spend on campaigning as of Jan. 1.

His opponent, Sugar Grove Village President Sean Michels, had $50,301.98, thanks to a $50,000 loan from his father, Waubonsee Community College Trustee James Michels.

Candidates were required to file a Form D-2 semiannual report, covering July 1 to Dec. 31, 2009, by the end of the day Wednesday with the state board of elections.

The state board's Web site also shows that since Jan. 1, Lauzen has received $16,550 in reportable contributions of $500 or more, while Michels has received $8,000.

Candidates are required to report contributions of $500 or more, made within 30 days of an election, within 48 hours of receiving the contribution. Those contributions are filed on a schedule A-1.

How much candidates spent after Jan. 1 won't be known until July 1 at the earliest, when the semiannual financial report is due again.

Lauzen's campaign committee still owes him $34,850 on a loan from December 2007. Michels' committee has not repaid James Michels' loan.

50th HouseState Rep. Kay Hatcher, seeking re-election in the 50th District, started the year with $29,785.39 in her committee's account, and has received at least $16,960 in donations since Jan. 1 from individuals and committees. Her committee owes Hatcher $35,675.17 in loans she made from December 2007 through December 2009.One of her opponents in the Feb. 2 Republican primary, Bob McQuillan of Geneva, had $1,134 available as of Jan. 1, and he has yet to report any A-1 contributions since then. He raised $4,705 in 2009, $2,000 of which came in a loan from himself to his committee.The semiannual report of Hatcher's other opponent, Keith Wheeler of Oswego, showed he had $9,679.04 in cash on hand as of Jan. 1. His largest itemized donation in 2009 was from Republican Renaissance PAC for $5,000.Wheeler has reported receiving $3,000 since Jan. 1.False293385Chris Lauzen False