Candidate rejects campaign cash criticism
One Republican in the 8th Congressional District primary is getting flak from two foes over a campaign contribution he received.
At issue is $1,000 sent from controversial Springfield lobbyist Robert Kjellander to congressional candidate Steve Greenberg of Long Grove. Greenberg said there's nothing wrong with Kjellander's donation.
Declared Republicans will pick from Greenberg and Gurnee residents Kirk Morris and Ken Arnold in the Feb. 5 primary. The 8th Congressional District includes parts of Lake, Cook and McHenry counties.
Arnold, 51, said Greenberg should return the $1,000 because Kjellander was referred to as "Individual K" by federal prosecutors in a guilty plea entered by North Shore businessman Stuart Levine. Authorities said Levine, who awaits sentencing on mail fraud and money laundering, received kickbacks by using his position on a state teacher pension investment board.
Levine claimed he helped Kjellander collect a "finder's fee" after obtaining a $150 million Teachers Retirement System deal for one of his clients. In return, according to federal officials, Kjellander didn't bill Levine for lobbying work.
Morris, 49, said Greenberg is "a hypocrite" for keeping Kjellander's cash while recently demanding the 8th Congressional District's Democratic incumbent, Melissa Bean of Barrington, return a campaign donation from the liberal MoveOn.org.
Greenberg, 36, said Kjellander hasn't done anything wrong so there is no reason to return the $1,000 to him. In federal disclosure documents filed in September, Greenberg contends the donation came as part of a legal political funding system that should be improved.
"Bob Kjellander's money is not part of the problem," Greenberg said.
Morris is a sales executive for a biofuels manufacturing company. His son, Geoffrey, died while fighting for the Marines in 2004.
Greenberg is a former minor-league hockey player whose family franchises the Ben Franklin variety store chain.
Arnold, a senior benefit plan management consultant, made an unsuccessful bid for an 8th Congressional District seat in the 2006 GOP primary.
On the Democratic side, Bean faces Lindenhurst activist Randi Scheurer in the Feb. 5 primary.