State financial races attracting campaign cash

SPRINGFIELD - In the race to become the state's next comptroller, Democratic candidates appear to be the busier fundraisers as the campaigns wind down.

Raja Krishnamoorthi of Hoffman Estates, who is a former deputy treasurer and assistant attorney general, led the pack with just under $600,000 raised over the last 61/2 months. Krishnamoorthi's largest contributions from that period were $10,000, including one payment from Glen Tullman, a CEO at Allscripts, a software developer for health-care providers, and a contribution from the International Union of Operating Engineers.

Dentist and current state Rep. David Miller of Lynwood received more than $350,000 over the same time period. Miller received money from a slew of different political action groups, including the Service Employees International Union, which contributed $25,000 to Miller in the last two months. Multiple teachers unions also supported him, including the Illinois Political Action Committee for Education, the political wing of the Illinois Education Association, which gave $100,000 to Miller last week.

Wilmette tax attorney Clinton "Clint" Krislov reported nearly $35,000 raised during the same period, roughly $30,000 of which was personally financed.

Former state treasurer and gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar Topinka led the pack of Republican comptroller candidates with nearly $205,000 raised. The biggest contributions for the second half of 2009 for the Riverside resident came from Chicago real estate developer Elzie Higginbottom, various political action committees and the American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees union in Springfield, which contributed $5,000 earlier this month.

Jim Dodge, Republican candidate for comptroller, raised nearly $120,000 since July 1. Dodge, a marketing executive who also sits on the board of directors for Metra and serves as a village trustee for Orland Park, received his largest campaign contribution from that period from wealthy conservative activist Jack Roeser, who donated $50,000.

Fellow GOP comptroller candidate and Chicago television producer William Kelly received $5,400 in the same reporting period.

Treasurer candidate financingAmong Democrats seeking the nomination to be treasurer, Robin Kelly reported raising nearly $200,000 since July 1. Significant donors included the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees and the Illinois Laborer' Legislative Committee, each of which contributed $10,000.Justin Oberman, Kelly's rival in the Democratic race for treasurer, received just under $345,000, of which $58,000 was Oberman's own money. Oberman's largest contributor for the period was Steve Belin, listed on campaign finance records only as a self-employed consultant from Louisville, Colo., who contributed $60,000 to Oberman on Jan. 19.