Newton leads Rudd in campaign cash in Lake County coroner’s race
Steve Newton, the Republican candidate for Lake County coroner, has received campaign donations from several local funeral homes, state disclosure reports show.
Those contributions were among the $10,235 the Friends of Steve Newton committee reported receiving during the year’s third quarter.
In stark contrast, Democratic rival Tom Rudd reported receiving less than $763 in campaign donations during the same period. That sum included a $238 donation from the candidate.
Newton started the new quarter on Oct. 1 with nearly $4,629 saved for campaign signs, fliers or other expenses, records show. Rudd had just $5 in the bank as of Oct. 1.
County candidates who raise or spend at least $3,000 must file quarterly financial disclosure reports with the state board of elections. They must also file individual reports for donations of $1,000 or more.
Donations of less than $150 do not need to be itemized on the reports.
The reports are viewable online at elections.state.il.us.
The most recent quarterly reports cover donations and expenditures from July 1 to Sept. 30.
Newton, of Antioch, and Rudd, of Lake Forest, are running for an open seat. Rudd defeated incumbent Artis Yancey in March’s Democratic primary.
Newton, a former chief deputy coroner who now works as a Lake County court security officer, reported receiving seven campaign donations from funeral homes:
Ÿ Congdon & Co. of Zion, $500.
Ÿ The Davenport Family Funeral Home of Barrington, two donations totaling $200.
Ÿ Strang Funeral Chapel and Crematorium of Grayslake, $500.
Ÿ Strang Funeral Home of Antioch, $300.
Ÿ The Wauconda Funeral Home, two donations totaling $500.
Newton spent seven years working in the coroner’s office. He worked closely with funeral homes in that capacity.
“They recognize that I’m the right guy for the job,” he said.
Newton’s campaign also received $200 from County Clerk Willard Helander’s election committee and $170 from former Republican Coroner James Wipper, among other donations.
He spent nearly $9,518 on Facebook advertising, brochures, office supplies and other purchases, records show.
Rudd, a licensed physician who works as a part-time pathologist and educator, reported receiving only two campaign donations of $150 or more during the period.
In addition to the $238 check he wrote, Rudd received $500 from the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor, records show.
Rudd spent more than $762 — nearly his entire campaign war chest — on signs, reports show.
Rudd couldn’t be reached for comment.
Newton and Rudd will face off in the Nov. 6 election. Early voting ends Saturday.