Challenger leads in funding for Sugar Grove president race
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Kevin Geary, running for the Sugar Grove village presidency, released his latest campaign finance report Tuesday, and it showed he was ahead of incumbent Sean Michels, at least in garnering financial support.
The 2012 fourth-quarter report, filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections, showed Geary's campaign received $5,092 in contributions during that period. Of that, Geary loaned $745 to the campaign.
"We are running a grass-roots campaign. I am grateful for the friends, neighbors and area businesses that have shown support for our positive, pro-business and pro-family message," Geary said in a statement.
There were $1,850 in itemized individual contributions. Contributors included ArchAngels Biorecovery, a firm owned by Tao Martinez, who ran unsuccessfully for Kane County coroner in November. Martinez, a Democrat, supported Republican Chris Lauzen in the 2013 county board chairman race. Geary and several of his supporters also support Lauzen.
Other contributors included Frank Karabetsos, executive vice president of Fox River Foods; Shamrock Group Investments of Batavia, whose principal, James Purcell, sought — and later dropped out of the running for — the Republican nomination for the 14th Congressional District seat in 2009. Geary's campaign also received $150 from Family PAC of Chicago, which describes itself as a pro-family, anti-tax organization. Jon Zahm, Geary's campaign manager, serves on the PAC's recently formed Coalition to Protect Children and Marriage, in his role as chairman of the Kane County Conservative Coalition.
The campaign paid Zahm $2,000 during the quarter.
As of Tuesday, Geary's campaign had $2,198, and he owes $1,495 to himself.
Michels' money
"I think he is a bit premature," Michels said Wednesday. Geary had a fundraising event in December; Michels is having one Tuesday, and said he has raised $3,000 in advance.
Michels' report for the fourth quarter shows he took in no contributions, and spent $646, leaving a balance of $355.94. The Friends of Sean Michels owes $45,000 to Michels' parents from his 2009 campaign for the Republican nomination for 25th District state senate race. He lost to incumbent Lauzen.
"It's not all about the money," Michels said. " ... Voters are smarter to look at the record of what I've done in 13 years, and what Kevin has done as a trustee in 13 years."
