Republicans lead cash totals in state Senate 25, House 50
In big money donations, Republican Jim Oberweis is leading his opponent, Democrat Corinne Pierog, in raising campaign money in the state’s 25th Senate District race.
Reports on the state election board’s website indicate that as of noon Monday, the Committee to Elect Corinne M. Pierog had at least $22,624 to spend.
It received $18,100 in donations of $1,000 or more since July 1, the beginning of the third quarter.
Such donations have to be reported to the state within five days of receipt, until 30 days before the election. Then, they have to be reported within two days.
Smaller donations only have to be listed on quarterly and semiannual reports.
Pierog has received money from the Illinois Senate Democratic Victory Fund; the Stronger Illinois committee; West Suburban Teachers Union Local 571; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; and the Illinois Political Action Committee for Education. Pierog, who has worked as an educator, is on the St. Charles school board.
Pierog, 61, had a fundraiser Thursday night in St. Charles, tied to her birthday. Tickets to the event at Alley 64 were $61; sponsorships were available, from $100 for a birthday candle to $2,500 for the birthday cake.
Friends of Jim Oberweis started the third quarter with $79,187 in the kitty. It has added at least another $53,500.
He’s received $5,000 apiece from Jerry Rich of Sugar Grove and J.R. Davis of Barrington. Rich owns the Rich Harvest Farms golf club and developed software and computers to monitor stock trading.
Davis lists his or her occupation as “student.” State records indicate a J.R. Davis with the same address has donated to Republican and Democratic politicians, primarily in Cook County, over the years; on those donations, Davis listed occupations as chief executive officer of Davis Bancorp, president of Chicago Cultural Mile and officer of Safe Bag,
Other contributors included Navistar, Exelon Generation, and political action committees for the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Merchants Association, Realtors and the Illinois State Medical Society. On Aug. 6, the Oberweis committee transferred $2,000 to the United Republican Fund of Illinois.
The 25th District includes all or parts of Elgin, Wayne, West Chicago, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Elburn, Campton Hills, Sugar Grove, Bristol, Yorkville, Montgomery and Aurora.
50th House
Doesn’t look like Democrat Andrew Bernard is getting any major financial help in his campaign against Republican State Rep. Kay Hatcher for the 50th House District seat.
A check of campaign finance reports on the state election board’s website shows Friends to Elect Andrew Bernard hasn’t reported any contributions of $1,000 or more in the third quarter. Its second-quarter report showed $1,209 in the bank.
Candidates, however, do not have to report smaller contributions until they file their third-quarter report. So in theory, Bernard could have a war chest full of such smaller contributions at his disposal.
Friends of Kay Hatcher’s reports show she started the quarter with a balance of $6,301. It has since received $3,000 in reportable donations. The committee still owes $35,699 to Hatcher, who lent the committee money from December 2007 to December 2009.
The 50th District includes all or parts of Campton Hills, Elburn, Sugar Grove, Montgomery, Aurora, Batavia, Geneva, Bristol, Oswego, Yorkville and North Aurora.