GOP light on funding for coming races

Republicans hoping to win back seats in the suburbs and stop the recent turnovers to Democrats appear behind so far in the all-important money race, according to campaign records due Monday night.

Several Cook County area GOP challengers whom House Republican leader Tom Cross showcased at a recent news conference have raised few funds in the last six months to pay staff, buy ads or purchase mailers for their upcoming battles.

But it is still early, warns Cross spokesman David Dring.

"By the time it is over, there will be hundreds of thousands of dollars spent in those races," Dring said. "(The candidates) will be stepping up their own fundraising and as things get closer, you will see more House Republican money in those races."

Much of Cross' efforts are focusing in Northwest Cook County where Democrats have made critical gains in recent years. The Oswego Republican is targeting state Rep. Paul Froehlich of Schaumburg, who switched parties, and state Rep. Fred Crespo of Hoffman Estates, who unseated a veteran GOPer in the last go-round.

Yet, Roselle's Peggy Brothman, who is challenging Crespo, had about $3,000 on hand at the end of June. Schaumburg's Anita Forte-Scott, who hopes to unseat Froehlich, had about $1,500.

Crespo raised $20,000 in the last six months and had $11,000 on hand at the end of June. Froehlich, who faced a primary challenge, raised $44,000 in the last six months and had about $8,000 on hand as of June 30.

In all, the House Republican leadership had raised more than $400,000 in the first six months of 2008, but had just over $111,000 on hand at the end of June.

House Speaker Michael Madigan had about $1.1 million on hand at the end of June. Cross' own campaign fund also had $1.1 million, which is on par with previous fundraising efforts, and Dring said much of it would go to helping elect Republicans.

State Rep. Rosemary Mulligan, a 15-year veteran Republican from Des Plaines, is facing an aggressive challenge from Democrat Aurora Austriaco of Park Ridge, who raised $81,754 in the first six months of 2008 with the help of Cook County State's Attorney Dick Devine and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky.

Mulligan had about $60,359 on hand at the end of June, and she said she would be stepping up fundraising efforts.

In the Naperville area, where Republican Joe Dunn is stepping down in the 96th District, the challengers are neck-and-neck in fundraising so far.

Both Republican Darlene Senger, a Naperville city councilman, and Democrat Diane McGuire had about $27,000 on hand as of late June.

On the state Senate side, Republicans are pulling in funds to hold on to the seat of retiring Sen. Bill Peterson in the 26th District around Buffalo Grove.

Republican Dan Duffy, a computer consultant from Lake Barrington, is out-fundraising opponent Bill Gentes by nearly 10 to 1, having more than $135,000 on hand as of late June.

Gentes, Round Lake's Mayor, had just $14,000 on hand at the end of June.

In Lake County, Republican Keith Gray is challenging state Sen. Terry Link of Waukegan, who forged ground for the Democrats in the county back in the late 1990s.

Gray, president of Integrated Lakes Management, had nearly $50,000 in the bank on June 30, having loaned himself $25,000 early in the campaign. Link's latest campaign financing report was not available late Monday, but he had about $50,000 on hand in late January.