Candidates spending big bucks in Des Plaines mayoral race

Just how much money would you spend campaigning for a part-time job that pays roughly $9,000 a year, albeit with bragging rights?

The four candidates competing for the Des Plaines mayor's post on April 7 say collectively they will spend roughly $75,000. That's as much as two candidates raised in the 2001 Des Plaines mayoral race.

Ward 2 Alderman Martin Moylan pledges to spend at least $50,000, while on the other end of the spectrum retired precision machinist Mike Lake says he likely won't exceed $3,000. In the middle are contenders Dick Sayad, a computer firm owner who plans to spend more than $12,000, and attorney Mark Thompson, who doesn't expect to spend more than $10,000.

Moylan, who is backed mostly by the construction industry, labor unions and businesses, has raised roughly $15,000 so far. He put $15,000 of his own money into the campaign and is planning more fundraisers.

"There's still money coming in," said Moylan, 58. "I'll be reaching our goal, hopefully, of $50,000. It could go up. You have to spend that money to get your message out and to reach the voters."

Moylan's $50,000 budget for the race mirrors what current Mayor Tony Arredia raised in 2001 during his first election campaign while serving as acting mayor. Yet, it doesn't match the record set by D. Michael Albrecht in 1989 when he raised $72,000 during a four-way race for Des Plaines mayor.

Arredia, who is being forced out by term limits, accepted about $52,000 in contributions during the 2001 campaign, largely from business donors.

Moylan said it's expensive to produce and mail campaign fliers and literature, create signs, and make robotic phone calls to voters. He's also hired a campaign manager from a consulting firm and office staff to help.

The other mayoral contenders say $50,000 is too much money to spend for the office.

"It doesn't make any sense to me to spend five times as much money as the job is worth," said Lake, 61, who ran unsuccessfully for 2nd Ward alderman in 2003 and again in 2007. "If you're that free with your own, how responsible are you going to be with the taxpayers money."

Lake added $3,000 is enough to get his message across through weekly newspaper advertisements and knocking on doors.

"My responsibility was to get the petitions and run for office," Lake said. "I've done that. If people want good government, they need to learn about the candidates. They need to come to the forums. They need to find out for themselves who the candidates are."

Neither Sayad nor Thompson set a cap on how much money they are willing to spend.

Sayad, 65, who served as 4th Ward alderman for eight years before leaving in 2007 because of term limits, is using $12,000 of his money for an office downtown, to pay for phones and computers, and to print and mail fliers. He also is raising funds separately.

"I'm just going to see what everything costs," he said. "Most of my money is all coming from residents. I have not taken yet from any special interest groups."

Sayad said it's not about the money and winning the election will come down to who's got the right business background and most experience for the job.

Thompson has raised $6,000 but anticipates spending about $10,000 before the campaign ends. The 53-year-old said he doesn't need a big budget to get his name out because he is well known as former Maine Township supervisor.

"That is worth a lot of money," Thompson said. "I am doing a lot more grass roots type efforts. You always have to wonder, if you're raising and spending almost obscene amounts of money, what the agenda is. Are you really out there just offering yourself as a candidate or do you want it too bad. My ego won't be crushed if I don't win."