State senator generous with campaign war chest

As he runs for a fifth term in the state Senate, Terry Link is in no danger of running out of campaign cash.

How full are his coffers? Consider this: During the first six months of 2008, his political committee gave more than $30,000 to Democrats in other races, Illinois State Board of Elections records show. That's more than many candidates for public office raise on their own - and Link had it to spare.

"I've got enough money and I'm in a leadership role," said Link, chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party and the majority caucus chairman of the Senate. "And in a leadership role, you show leadership."

The sum Link gave away is more than Link's Republican opponent, Mettawa resident Keith Gray, collected from outside sources after he got into the race in April.

Gray, a first-time candidate, knows he won't be able to outraise or outspend Link before Election Day.

"What I have to do is appeal to voters' common sense and ask them if, with the state in the condition it's in, is something wrong here," Gray said. "He can't be doing a great job if the state's in a mess."

Link and Gray are facing off in the 30th District, which includes much of eastern Lake County and a small portion of Cook County.

Link has held the seat since 1997. He ran unopposed in February's primary.

The Friends of Terry Link committee spent about $118,183 during the first half of the year, reports show. Although much of that total was to cover his own campaign expenses, an estimated $30,318 - about 26 percent - went to boost other Democrats' coffers.

The politicians Link sent cash included: Waukegan Mayor Richard Hyde; 6th District congressional candidate Jill Morgenthaler of Des Plaines; and state Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson of Crete, who's running for Congress in the 11th District.

The single-biggest recipient of Link's generosity was Lake County Board member Angelo Kyle of Waukegan, who unsuccessfully challenged state Rep. Eddie Washington in the 60th House District in February's Democratic primary.

Link's campaign committee put up $21,318 for Kyle's direct-mail campaign advertisements and consulting, state reports show.

"I had supported Angelo Kyle in the primary," Link explained. "I knew Rep. Washington was going to have quite a bit of money and I knew Angelo, running against an incumbent, was going to have trouble raising money."

Link wasn't the only Lake County politician to help Kyle. So did state Rep. Kathy Ryg of Vernon Hills, whose campaign committee covered printing and mailing bills totaling $2,616 for Kyle, records show.

Although legal and common, transfers of this kind raise questions for political watchdogs.

"This practice is really about organization building and safeguarding your fortress as the boss of the area," said Cindi Canary, executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

Link's fundraising abilities were strong this past period. His committee started the year with more than $50,000 and collected $144,685 in donations, reports show,

As has been Link's tradition, much of his financial support this period came from corporations, unions, professional groups and their political action committees. Donors included:

• Baxter Healthcare Corp, which gave $1,000.

• Harrah's, which gave $4,000.

• The Chicago Teachers Union's political committee, which gave $2,000.

• ComEd's political committee, which gave $2,200.

Link's committee ended June with about $76,973 in the bank, records show.

Gray owns a company called Integrated Lakes Management and serves on the Rondout Elementary District 72 school board. Local GOP leaders nominated Gray to run against Link because no Republicans went after the seat in February's primary.

The Citizens to Elect Keith Gray committee raised roughly $51,404 before July 1, records show.

Significant financial support came from Mettawa-based Klein Tools, which donated $10,000. Other donors included Aldridge Electric President Ken Aldridge of Libertyville, who gave $3,000, and a Lake Villa-based group called the Lake County Fix Legislation Team, which gave about $2,789.

The $25,000 Gray contributed to his own effort was a loan.

Gray spent more than $3,710 on his campaign during the same period, leaving him with about $47,694 as of July 1.

Gray admitted disappointment with his fundraising thus far. Although he didn't see it when he announced his candidacy, he said he now realizes some potential backers are shying away because of Link's campaign successes and cash. Another factor is U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid is expected to buoy the candidacies of Democrats throughout Illinois.

"This doesn't look like a good investment, even to my best friends," Gray said.