State Sen. Duffy is a cash magnet
New Republican state Sen. Dan Duffy of Lake Barrington proved to be a financial dynamo, raising more than $638,000 to beat Democratic Round Lake Mayor Bill Gentes last November.
Duffy's cash-raising prowess ranked in the top three of about 24 senate races statewide for the election, according to the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform watchdog organization.
Gentes had total receipts of $156,987 for the senate District 26 seat, according to state campaign financial disclosure documents for the period July 1 through Dec. 31. District 26 covers Lake, Cook and McHenry counties.
Duffy's largest contributor was the Illinois Republican State Senate Campaign Committee, which provided $296,432. He said it was part of a strong effort to keep District 26 in Republican hands in the wake of the retirement of Long Grove's William Peterson.
But Cindi Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, said the fact Duffy collected so much money from the Republicans instead of district residents raises concerns.
"It begs the question, as always, about the almost psychic indebtedness a candidate has to party leadership," Canary said Thursday.
Duffy, who spent nearly $610,000 on his senate seat, said the cash flowed to him because he's a small-business owner who represented a chance for voters to place a fresh outlook on issues in Springfield.
"I worked hard getting out to individuals and telling people my story," Duffy said.
Other top contributors to Duffy included $25,000 from the Health Care Council of Illinois, $10,000 from the Illinois State Medical Society and $4,500 from the Caterpillar Employees Political Action Committee.
Individual contributions to Duffy included $1,000 from unsuccessful Republican governor candidate Ronald Gidwitz, $1,000 from Libertyville Mayor Jeffrey Harger and $1,000 from Fred Krehbiel, co-chairman of Molex Inc. in Lisle. Individual donations totaled $103,423.
On top of the $638,231, campaign documents show Duffy received $236,808 of in-kind contributions, such as computer services from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and mailings from the Manufacturers Political Action Committee.
By comparison, another Republican who was victorious in a hot race, state Sen. Matt Murphy of Palatine, took in a hefty sum of campaign contributions but didn't come close to Duffy. Murphy's fund totaled $411,316.
Gentes said Duffy's strong finances swamped him from the beginning, particularly with expenditures on television advertising. Records show Duffy's campaign spent $296,432 on TV spots.
Duffy, who trounced Gentes in the election, said his campaign showed Republicans can win in Illinois. He said GOP officials are analyzing how other candidates in the party can borrow the best elements of his campaign.
"We learned a lot about strategy," Duffy said. "We learned a lot about how to raise money. We learned a lot on how to work on the road."