McHenry County Blog

A press release from Congressman Joe Walsh:

Walsh posts strong first quarter fundraising dollars

Duckworth only raises 3% of her money in the district

Yesterday Congressman Joe Walsh released his first quarter fundraising totals.

Due to the March 20th Primary, these numbers only reflect the month of March.

During that period, Walsh raised $266,213 and now has $607,150 cash on hand.

For the cycle Walsh has raised almost $1,250,000, a number that puts him near the top of all freshmen for that time period.

In contrast, Congressman Walsh’s opponent Tammy Duckworth only has $259,974 cash on hand remaining, while at the same time posting nearly $100,000 in debt.

In a troublesome sign for the campaign’s local support, Duckworth only raised $8,288 (or roughly 3.3%) of her personal contributions inside the new or old 8th district.

In fact, Ms. Duckworth reported more contributions from New York City than she did from the district she is hoping to represent.

Joe Walsh

“I am happy to see that the people of the 8th district  have once again shown their support by helping me post strong first quarter numbers.

“By supporting my campaign, it reaffirms that I am doing exactly what the voters sent me to Washington to do; cut taxes, cut spending, protect small business and end Obamacare.

“That is exactly what I have done, and it is exactly what I will continue to do.”

“It is not surprising that Tammy is seeing very little local support.

“You can’t expect to raise money locally if you never come out of hiding and meet with the voters.

“It makes perfect sense that Tammy raised the majority of her money out of state and only raised a fraction of her money in the actual district.

“It is unfortunate that Tammy can’t run in San Francisco or New York City, considering that her support is strongest in those areas.”

Karen McConnaughay

It takes a lot of $25 contributors to equal the checks that State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay has received recently.

$10,000 came from the Stand Up for Children PAC Illinois, a Political Action Committee based in Bill Gates’ Oregon, last Friday, the day of opponent Cliff Surges’ Lake in the Hills $25 fundraiser.

There were other donations in the last week over $1,000, too:

• $10,000 – Stand For Children Illinois PAC, Portland, OR
• $5,000 – Allicott Company, Chicago
• $5,000 – Illinois Manufacturers Association,
• $5,000 – Ronald Gidwitz, Chicago
• $2,500 – Carol Boose, St. Charles
• $2,000 – Illinois State Medical Society PAC, Chicago
• $1,500 – Credit Union PAC, Naperville
• $1,250 – Margaret Parker, Administration, Elgin Community College, St. Charles
• $1,000 – Michael Bertsche, President, Camcraft, West Chicago
• $1,000 – Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce PAC, Chicago

All of the above contributions of more than $1,000 came during February.

Cliff Surges

In contrast, here’s what Cliff Surges got in big money:

• $5,000 John Roeser, Engineer, Otto Engineering, Inc, Barrington
• $2,500 – Roy Surges, Jr, Enterprise Sales Executive, Allscript, St Charles
• $1,000 – Nicholas Gialamas, Forest Financial Group, President & CEO. Lake Forest

Kent Gaffney

David McSweeney

While primary opponent Dave McSweeney is picking up $5,000 here and $5,000 there, appointed State Rep. Kent Gaffney has not had many contributions of that maximum amount now allowed by law.

December 2nd, however, Gaffney, a former Cross staffer, did get a $4,000 check from Citizens for Tom Cross.

The only addition contribution of $1,000 or more in November came from Joseph Dunn, a CPA with offices in Chicago. That was on November 21st.

McSweeney received the following November-December contributions that state law requires be reported within two days of receipt:

• 11-3 $1,500 MidAmerican Energy Company, Iowa
• 11-3 $3,000 Edward Sondey, Bronxville, NY
• 11-3 $5,000 Thomas Montag, NY, NY
• 11-3 $5,000 Sofia1 Segal, NY, NY
• 11-3 $5,000 Mikhail Segal, NY, NY
• 11-7 $2,000 John M. Pratt, Kenilworth
• 11-7 $5,000 Scott Mulcahy, Chicago
• 11-7 $5,000 Merrick Ventures, LLC, Chicago
• 11-7 $1,000 Dennis Healy, Chicago
• 11-7 $2,000 Lester Crown, Chicago
• 11-7 $2,000 John Salyer, Jr., Schaumburg
• 11-14 $2,500 David Grainger, Lake Forest
• 11-17 $1,000 Marilyn J. Hayden, Scotsdale, AZ
• 11-17 $1,000 James E. Bramsen, Barrington
• 11-17 $5,000 James R.T. Bartlett, Rye, NY
• 11-17 $5,000 Invenergy LLC, Chicago
• 11-28 $5,000 James M. Mercurio, Houston, TX
• 12-1 $5,000 Todd Kaplan Trust, Winnetka
• 12-1 $5,000 Leslie Brille, Greenwich, CT

The third candidate in the race has raised no contributions of $1,000 or more since October 1st.

A high power line broke on Main Street in Crystal Lake next to Best Buy. It didn't take a Smart Grid to find it.

The Campaign for Political Reform has a spreadsheet that shows how much each state legislator has taken from companies like Commonwealth Edison, Ameren and other entities which it thinks has a stake in the so-called “Smart Grid” electricity rate hike bill.

It’s not perfect. I found one State Senator who got a contribution from ComEd PAC that wasn’t on it, but it’s the best one-source document out there.

The donations shown are for this calenday year through October 18th. The Com Ed/Ameren electric rate hike veto override of Senate Bill 1652 occurred on October 19th, so there is some possibility additional, last minute contributions were made.

Below you see the contributions from 2011 for the 39 State senators who voted to override Governor Pat Quinn’s veto of Senate Bill 1652:

• Senate Democratic Victory Fund – $89,250
• Republican State Campaign Committee – $42,650

The Democratic Party Senate campaign fund is controlled by Senate President John Cullerton.

The Republican Party Senate campaign fund is run by Minority Leader Christine Radogno.

In descending order, here’s what each of the 39 State Senators who voted to raise your electric rates got in contributions from Commonwealth Edison, Ameren, plus other companies and executives thereof which the Committee on Political Reform believes had an interest in the bill’s passage:

• 

  Mike Jacobs, sponsor of Senate Bill 1652

  Christine Radogno – $38,000

• Kirk Dillard – $19,000
• Mike Jacobs – $16,750
• Dale Richter – $13,930
• Antonio Munoz – $13,850
• Don Harmon – $11,500
• Toi Hutchinson – $11,000
• James Meeks – $11,000
• Bill Brady – $9,500
• Annezette Collins – $8,250
• A. J. Wilhemi – $7,700
• Mattie Hunter – $7,000
• Carole Pankau – $6,350
• John Millner – $6,050
• Donne Trotter – $6,000
• John Jones – $5,750
• Kimberly Lightford – $5,500
• William Haine – $5.450
• Terry Link – $5,000
  

  GOP Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno

• Michael Noland – $4,750
• Matt Murphy – $4,250
• Pam Althoff – $4,000
• David Leuchtefeld – $3,358
• Kwame Raoul – $2,500
• Sue Rezen – $2,000
• Maggie Crotty – $1,500
• John Cullerton – $1,500
• Linda Holmes – $1,250
• Iris Martinez – $1,250
• Emil Jones, III – $1,000
• William Delgado – $1,000
• David Koehler – $750
• Martin Sandoval – $500
• Thomas Johnson – 0
• Steven Landek – 0
• Ron Sandack – 0

Dave McSweeney

Here’s contributions and loans over $1,000 that just officially announced State Rep. candidate David McSweeney has reported raising so far in his campaign.  In his press release, he said he had raised or had commitments for $250,000.

$19,500 has been reported to the Illinois State Board of Elections so far.

McSweeney is trying to unseat Kent Gaffney, who was appointed to replace Mark Beaubien, and will also face Danielle Rowe, who is set to announce her candidacy Thursday.

• 9-22 $7,500 – Loan from candidate
• 10-8 $5,000 – Gerald R. Forsythe, CEO, Indeck Power Equipment, Wheeling, IL 60090
• 10-8 $2,500 – Richard W. Porter, Kirkland & Ellis, Winnetka
• 10-8 $2,500 – Thomas G. Fitzgerald, Attorney, BankNote Capital Corp, Naples, FL
• 10-11 $2,000 – Daniel Dickinson, Hawthorn Woods

Kent Gaffney

Compare that to the big money–about $33,400–that Gaffney has raised:

• 8-1 $1,000 – Citizens for Jim Watson, Jacksonville
• 8-1 $1,000 – Citizens for Jim Durkin, Western Springs
• 8-15 $5,000 – Vincent Foglia, CEO, Sage Products, No. Barrington
• 8-15 $5,000 – Patricia Foglia, Patricia, Homemaker, No. Barrington
• 8-15 $1,000 – James Lancaster, Retired, Barrington Hills
• 8-15 $1,000 – Illinois State Medical Society PAC, Chicago, IL 60602 $1,000.00
• 8/15 $1,000 – Roxelyn, Homemaker, Barrington
• 8/24 $4,000 – Citizens for Mark Beaubien, Barrington
• 8/26 $1,000 – Citizens for Sullivan, Mundelein
• 8/29 $8,381.65 – Citizens for Mark Beaubien
• 9/2 $1,000 – AT&T Services, Chicago
• 9/27 $1,000 – Abbott Laboratories Employee PAC, Abbott Park
• 10/4 $2,000 – Ameren, St. Louis

When I was in the Illinois House of Representatives Leader Lee Daniels pressed members to donate thousands of dollars to the House Republican Campaign Fund. As an alternative, contributions to designated endangered colleagues were acceptable. It is conceivable that current Republican House Leader Tom Cross, who served on Daniels’ Leadership Team before taking him out, has continued the same practice. $3,000 has been contributed from Gaffney’s House colleagues.

Ameren, along with Commonwealth Edison, is seeking an October override of Governor Pat Quinn’s veto for its so-called “Smart Grid.” Enactment that will raise electricity rates. (Alternatively Com Ed wants a mildly amended version passed.) Com Ed ally Ameren is the electric utility based in St. Louis, not exactly a household name in Commonwealth Edison’s franchise area.

Danielle Rowe

Danielle Rowe also has reported some contributions over $1,000–$9,500 so far:

• 9/1 $2,500 – Berger Excavating Contractors, Wauconda
• 9/6 $1,000 – William W. Kennedy (Rev Liv Tr), Owner, Kennedy Homes, South Barrington
• 9/6 $1,500 – M.J. Miller & Co. International, Barrington
• 9/10 $2,000 – Eric Weeder, McHenry
• 9/12 $2,500 – M.J. Miller & Co. International, Barrington

There are familiar Barrington area names contributing to all candidates, although I notice that one, Thomas Fitzgerald, now has a Florida address.

Pam Althoff

Dan Duffy

The newly-amended Illinois Campaign Contribution Disclosure law requires contributions of $1,000 or more to be reported relatively quickly. Previously, donations could not be viewed until late July…well after the General Assembly members had gone home.

Today, we shall look at who gave $1,000 or more to state legislators representing McHenry County.

Jack Franks

Jack Franks:

• $1,000 – Pickering & Associates LLC, Elgin
• $1,250 – Credit Union Political Action Council

Mike Tryon:

• $1,000 – Illinois Hospital Association PAC
• $1,000 – Ameren (a Downstate electric utility)

Mark Beaubien:

• None

Pam Althorff:

Mike Tryon

• $1,000 – NICOR Gas Political Action Committee
• $1,500 – Royal Management Corp. Lombard
• $1,000 – Southern Wine & Spirits of America Inc, Miramar, FL

Dan Duffy:

• $5,000 – David W. Grainger, Owner, W W Grainger Inc, Lake Forest

Governor Pat Quinn has released his income tax forms to at least the Chicago Sun-Times.

Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney reports today that Quinn earned $120,226 last year.

More interesting to me was that he contributed to $12,379 to charitable organizations.

Over 10%.

10.26%, to be more exact.

You will remember the Biblical suggestion that believers tithe 10% of their income to church. In fact, tithe meant a tenth in Old English.

Why is this worth a story?

Check out what now-President Barack Obama gave to charity before and after he gained the national spotlight.

Compare what Obama, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and retired President George W. Bush contributed to the percentage donated by Quinn.

All are less than what Methodist Church founder John Wesley recommended:

Gain all you can.

Save all you can.

Give all you can.

Wesley died with very little, having given away what he got as it came to him.

Any other politicians who want to share their percentage of charitable giving, drop me a line at McHenry County Blog.