Rahm fattens war chest by $539K, with generous servings from restaurants, hotels

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's already fat campaign war chest swelled by another $539,919 thanks, in part, to a parade of contributions from the restaurant and hospitality industries.

In early May, Rich Melman, founder of the Chicago-based restaurant group Lettuce Entertain You, contributed $150,000 to Emanuel.

The new filing includes $30,000 more from Melman children - Jerrod, Molly and Robert - who have taken over the restaurant empire their father built.

The $10,000 apiece from the Melman kids were among many contributions made by Chicago restaurants.

At a time when employees of 31 Chicago hotels have overwhelmingly authorized an Aug. 31 strike, Emanuel got a $10,000 contribution from the Illinois Hotel-Motel PAC that will make it difficult for him to side with those striking employees.

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