Link's former foe was fully funded by union

A Midwest labor union bankrolled the unsuccessful effort to unseat veteran state Sen. Terry Link in the upcoming Democratic Party primary, state records show.

Onetime challenger Jerry Johnson's campaign for the 30th District seat was fully funded by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, according to an Illinois Election Board financial disclosure report filed last week. The union represents workers in construction, landscaping and other industries in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa.

Johnson was knocked off the Feb. 5 primary ballot in December because of problems with his candidate petition. He's said he'll run as an independent candidate in the Nov. 4 general election.

The union gave the Friends of Jerry Johnson committee $5,000 and paid nearly $11,500 to fund Johnson's legal challenge of Link's candidate petition, which ultimately failed.

The Countryside-based union also paid $3,500 for consulting services and about $1,471 for printing, records show.

Johnson's campaign did not receive money from any other donors between July 1 and Dec. 31, the period covered by the financial report.

Local 150's legislative and political director, Todd Vandermyde, said his group backed Johnson because Link supported a challenger who unsuccessfully ran against union President William E. Dugan in an internal election last year.

"Terry Link stuck his nose where it didn't belong," Vandermyde said. "That was an internal matter for the members of our local to decide, not outside influences."

Link confirmed he supported Dugan's opponent, Joe Ward. The senator said he and Dugan have been on opposite sides of several issues.

"(Dugan) was … against me prior to this," Link said. "It wasn't like I threw the first rock."

Dugan could not be reached for comment. Johnson, of North Chicago, declined to comment.

Johnson's campaign wasn't the only political bid Local 150 supported last year. The group also gave nearly $162,000 to dozens of other campaigns and political groups in the last half of 2007, including those representing Democrats and Republicans.

Recent recipients of Local 150 funds included the campaigns of Democratic state Rep. Eddie Washington of Waukegan,Republican state Rep. Suzanne Bassi of Palatine,Republican state Rep. JoAnn Osmond of Antioch,state Senate Republican leader Frank Watson of downstate Greenville, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, a Democrat.

As for Link, he received more than $85,000 in campaign donations during the last six months of 2007, his disclosure reports show.

Much of his support came from political action committees representing pharmaceutical, energy and alcoholic beverage companies, among others.

Donations included:

• $3,000 from Abbott Laboratories.

• $1,000 from Pfizer International, a New York pharmaceutical company.

• $3,700 from Midwest Generation, a Chicago energy company.

• $13,000 from the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois.

Link said the organizations supported his campaign because "they know how I vote."

"They see somebody who's getting things done," said Link, who leads the Lake County Democratic organization and is the majority caucus chair in the Senate.

The 30th District includes parts of Lake and Cook counties.