Dems pour cash into 59th House race

Democratic party leaders have taken a heavy interest in the 59th District state representative race, pouring in cash and resources to hold the seat it has controlled for more than a decade.

That interest has led to a series of negative ads that even the candidates and others say they wish were not part of the equation, as Democrats defend their turf in a year of possible voter backlash against the party in power.

Incumbent Carol Sente, a business owner and Vernon Hills resident, was appointed about a year ago to fill the spot when Kathy Ryg resigned for another job. She has received more than four times the cash and in-kind help as Dan Sugrue, her Republican opponent, according to reports filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

With resources from the state Democratic Party and top leaders, Sente unofficially has amassed about eight times as much as what Ryg reported spending during the last six months of 2008, which included her victory over Sugrue.

From July 1 through Oct. 3, Sente received more than $160,000 in cash and in-kind contributions, such as postage, printing, and other expenses. Nearly all the in-kind contributions came from the Democratic Party of Illinois.

During the same time, Sugrue showed receipts of $20,225 for a total of about $28,000, according to reports.

Since Oct. 3, party support for Sente has accelerated, including about $220,000 in cash and in-kind contributions, the bulk of it from the state party.

Sugrue has received about $81,000 during that time, including $20,000 from the Republican Renaissance Political Action Committee and $30,000 from the House Republican Organization.

In all, Sente has tallied about $430,000 in cash and in-kind donations, compared with about $102,000 for Sugrue. The numbers are unofficial and don't include donations of less than $500.

The influx has helped support an ad campaign that in some pieces describes Sugrue, an attorney from Green Oaks, as a “radical extremist” whose “clumsy” budget cuts of key services would hurt people.

“I do think he's as extreme to the right as his party goes,” Sente said. “I really believe I'm the bridge the person to the far right of the party is not going to cross the aisle.”

Sugrue dismisses the charges and fires back on Sente's “attack ads” by saying she would be beholden to leaders who will saddle Illinois with more spending and debt.

“I nowhere have said I would cut breast cancer research my mom is a breast cancer survivor,” he said of an assertion in one of the ads.

“I think it's an act of desperation on their end,” Sugrue said of campaign tactics.

Some of his mailers attempt to link Sente with top Democratic leaders, including House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Sente said she didn't ask for the party's financial assistance.

“They may be looking for my support but what they get is a different thing,” she said. “I have no issue voting against my party,” or Madigan, she added.

She said she approved the mailers and rejected others. More than half have focused on issues, such as pension reform, she contended.

Sugrue and Republican leaders have cried foul, saying Sente has surrendered her campaign to Democratic powers and can't be expected to buck the system.