The Watchdogs: Illinois’ 50 richest political war chests
THIS WEEK BY TIM NOVAK & CHRIS FUSCO February 21, 2011 12:04AM
Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th) has three of the 50 richest political funds in Illinois. Rahm Emanuel ended 2010 with more money than any other politician in Illinois.
Updated: May 31, 2011 4:47AM
One hundred and four million dollars — that’s how much money sat in the 3,507 campaign funds controlled by state and local politicians and political-action committees at the end of 2010, Illinois State Board of Elections records show.
The richest campaign fund: Rahm Emanuel’s. The Chicago mayoral candidate ended the year with more than $8.3 million available to spend on things like commercials, polling and his campaign staff.
Not far behind at No. 2 on the richest-campaign list was Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th), with three of the 50 richest political funds statewide, together totaling $8.1 million.
Gov. Quinn ended the year with $689,678 in the bank after his November election.
Democrats control 31 of the 50 richest political war chests. Republicans have six.
Some politicians still have plenty of money in their campaign accounts even though they aren’t running for anything — and, in some cases, haven’t for years. Former Gov. Jim Edgar, for instance, left office in January 1999 — but still had $579,369 in his campaign account, state records show. And Mayor Daley — who leaves office in May and hasn’t raised any money since 2007 — had more than $1.2 million in his campaign fund. The rules on how former office-holders can spend any campaign money they still have vary depending on when they held office and when the money came in.
These are the 50 richest state campaign funds and PACs in Illinois (the list doesn’t include federal campaigns or PACs, which are overseen by the Federal Election Commission):
ORGANIZATION / DESCRIPTION / AMOUNT
1. Chicago for Rahm Emanuel / Mayoral candidate, Chicago Democrat / $8,337,872
2. Friends of Edward M. Burke / 14th Ward alderman and Democratic committeeman / $6,606,966
3. Stand for Children Illinois PAC / Education PAC / $2,876,000
4. Citizens for Lisa Madigan / Attorney general, Chicago Democrat / $2,471,329
5. Gery Chico for Mayor / Mayoral candidate, Chicago Democrat / $2,013,272
6. Illinois State Medical Society PAC / Doctors’ PAC / $1,848,264
7. Illinois Hospital Association PAC / PAC / $1,378,800
8. Personal PAC Inc. / Abortion-rights PAC / $1,361,166
9. Richard M. Daley Campaign Committee / Mayor, Chicago Democrat / $1,265,013
10. Friends of Ray Suarez / 31st Ward alderman, Democrat / $1,029,207
11. RPAC / Realtors’ PAC / $1,009,617
12. Roofers’ Political, Educational & Legislative Fund PAC / PAC / $980,016
13. Ameren Illinois PAC / Energy company PAC / $920,324
14. Citizens for Mike Smith / State representative (D-Pekin) / $885,140
15. Citizens for Alexi Giannoulias / Former state treasurer, Chicago Democrat / $868,877
16. Citizens for Gene Schulter / 47th Ward Democratic committeeman, retiring alderman / $860,220
17. For a Better Chicago PAC / PAC / $855,000
18. 14th Ward Regular Democratic Org. / Chaired by Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th) / $847,772
19. Citizens for Roger Claar / Bolingbrook mayor, Republican / $778,391
20. Citizens for Lou Lang / State representative (D-Skokie) / $771,477
21. Citizens for Emil Jones / Former Senate president (D-Chicago) / $747,767
22. Taxpayers for Pat Quinn / Governor, Chicago Democrat / $689,678
23. The Burnham Committee / PAC run by Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th) / $672,835
24. James “Pate” Philip Campaign Fund / Former Senate president (R-Wood Dale) / $664,870
25. Citizens for Jesse White / Secretary of state, Chicago Democrat / $647,753
26. Friends of Todd H. Stroger / Former Cook County Board president, Chicago Democrat / $613,220
27. Citizens for Michael F. Sheahan / Former Cook County sheriff, Chicago Democrat / $612,724
28. 13th Ward Democratic Organization / Chaired by House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, also 13th Ward Democratic committeeman / $611,437
29. Friends of James Clayborne / State senator (D-East St. Louis) / $604,462
30. Citizens for Jim Edgar / Former governor, Republican / $579,369
31. River North PAC / Chaired by ex-Ald. Burton Natarus (42nd), Democrat / $566,357
32. Citizens for Judy Baar Topinka / State comptroller, Riverside Republican / $552,856
33. Friends of Michael J. Madigan / Illinois House speaker (D-Chicago) / $544,305
34. Citizens for Brendan Reilly / 42nd Ward alderman, Democrat / $519,447
35. Committee to Elect James A. DeLeo / Former state senator (D-Chicago) / $503,734
36. Citizens for Larry Bomke / State senator (R-Springfield) / $487,862
37. Supporters of Jack D. Franks / State representative (D-Woodstock) / $462,609
38. Credit Union Political Action Council PAC / PAC / $461,028
39. Democratic Party of Illinois / Chaired by House Speaker Michael J. Madigan / $431,718
40. Committee to Re-Elect Larry R. Rogers Jr. / Cook County Board of Review member, Chicago Democrat / $412,465
41. Citizens For David Orr / Cook County clerk, Chicago Democrat / $399,475
42. Cable Television & Communication Assn. PAC / PAC / $394,449
43. Citizens for John Cullerton / Illinois Senate president (D-Chicago) / $389,834
44. Committee to Elect Jay C. Hoffman / Former state representative (D-Collinsville) / $383,682
45. IPACE (Illinois PAC for Education) / PAC / $381,696
46. Bradley A. Stephens Committeeman Fund / Rosemont mayor, Republican / $379,764
47. Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE / Teachers’ union PAC / $376,844
48. Friends of Bill Haine / State senator (D-Alton) / $376,438
49. Chicago Federation of Labor & Industrial Union Council PAC / PAC / $372,179
50. Friends of William J.P. Banks / 36th Ward Democratic committeeman, former alderman / $369,860
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