Donation dolls up Aurora mayor hopeful's campaign
Aurora mayoral candidate Stephanie Kifowit did not receive a box of roses, but a campaign donation by any other name is still a donation.
Kifowit recently received about "200 moving boxes" filled with collectible Precious Moments dolls for her campaign to sell as an in-kind donation.
She said nearly all of the dolls are "retired" and still wrapped tightly in their plastic shipping packages.
In addition to dolls, the donated items include figurines, wedding items, plates and various other Precious Moments collectibles that are no longer in production or were never released.
Kifowit said she believes some of the figurines are worth as much as $500 a piece, based on online searches she has done.
The donor, Deb Butcher Dobrez of St. Charles, is the daughter of Precious Moments founder Samuel Butcher. Dobrez worked for the company as a doll designer and accumulated an expansive collection of dolls. When the plants closed nearly 17 years ago, Dobrez was given the inventory, which she has sold portions of for other charitable contributions.
Dobrez, who is traveling, was unavailable for comment Thursday. But in a written statement, she said she donated the items, which would retail for about $400,000, to help fund the Kifowit for Mayor Campaign.
Kifowit met Dobrez through her husband, Don Dobrez, who is working on a documentary about the recent demolition of the Hi-Lite 30 Drive-In, which was Illinois' oldest functional drive-in at one time.
Kifowit said the donation provided a "fun" and "uplifting" addition to her campaign.
"I enjoy being unique, and this certainly is a unique way to fund a campaign," she said. "So I am very appreciative of this generous donation."
Kifowit has purchased space at the Antique Toy and Dolls Show on Oct. 26 at the Kane County Fair Grounds. The campaign will be selling the dolls for a suggested donation, and Kifowit said she will follow all election laws and disclosure requirements.
Ken Menzel, election information officer at the state board of elections, called the donation unusual but said Kifowit merely has to report receiving the in-kind donation before the next filing period and make an effort to ascertain the value of the donation.
"Usually in-kind donations come in more readily ascertainable amounts, like a restaurant donating space or food or an attorney donating services," Menzel said Thursday. "But right now, all she needs to do is report receiving it.
"If anything looks fishy about it at that time I'm sure her opponents will call it to our attention before we even get to auditing it."
In her most recent filings, Kifowit reported having $7,620 available. The same filings indicate incumbent Mayor Tom Weisner had $165,335. Alderman Rick Lawrence, the race's third mayoral candidate, reported $462 in cash on hand.