Dan Wilbrandt
Yesterday, McHenry County Blog reported that one of the men who wants to replace State Rep. Mike Tryon as State Representative reported receiving $35,000.
$25,000 was from the candidate himself and another $10,000 was given by Lawrence Wilbrandt.
Today, while trying to catch up on newspapers that arrived while we were on vacation, I read a June 14th column by Chicago Sun-Times reporter Natasha Korecki.
She told of how Governor Bruce Rauner had apparently promised to support a potential Champaign Republican candidate, Rob Meister, to the tune of $1 million.
A candidate committee, such as Rauner’s, is allowed by state law to contribute $53,000 to another campaign.
That’s a far cry from a million dollars.
The reporter then points out another campaign finance limitation.
The limit for individual contributions is “about $5,600.”
That got me wondering how Lawrence Wilbrandt could legally donate $10,000 to Dan Wilbrandt.
Meanwhile, Allen Skillicorn, another candidate from Dundee Township, reported receiving $1,000 from Citizens for Toby Shaw. Shaw is on the Elgin City Council, elected in 2013.
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Let me point out that I don’t think there should be limitations on campaign contributions.
There should, however, be much more rapid reporting than current state law requires.
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On July 2nd, Wilbrandt sent the following email:
Please find below an excerpt from the IL Board of Elections Campaign Disclosure Guide. Laurence Wilbrandt is my father and, as my immediate family member, is allowed to give unlimited contributions to my committee. I have attached the entire guide for your reference as well.
I hope that you will correct your recent post about his contribution.
“Self-funding Candidates: A candidate/public official or their immediate family members (spouse, parent or child) can make unlimited contributions to that public official or candidate’s political committee. However, under certain circumstances, such a public official or candidate may be considered a “self-funding candidate”. Reaching this designation causes the contribution limits for all candidates (including the self-funding candidate) for the same office to be waived, allowing those candidates to receive unlimited contributions.”
Happy 4th of July!
I have written a separate article about it.
Aren’t these guys lawyers?
Shouldn’t they know better?
This is moot, now that Paul busted the self funding contribution caps.
Now Larry Wilbrandt can make unlimited contributions to his son’s campaign.
@allen
Pursuant to 10 ILCS 5/9-8.5(h), a candidate or public official becomes self-funding and shall file the ‘Notification of Self Funding’ with the Board when the candidate or his immediate family contributes, transfers, loans to the candidate or makes independent expenditures on behalf of the candidate, of more than $250,000 in aggregate for a statewide office or MORE THAN $100,000 in aggregate for all other elective offices during the 12 months prior to an election.