I’ve updated the page of candidates and news with three new websites (two of them up with information, if still in development). All three mayoral candidates have their sites listed now along with three of the city council candidates.Naperville Mayoral Race News
The Chicago Tribune reported yesterday that Mayor George Pradel plans to spend as much as $50,000 on his race for re-election. To help him reach that goal he’s out of the blocks early with a January 15th campaign kick-off at Cafe’ Buonaro’s for $100 a head. By way of comparison George Pradel raised over $20,000 and spent just over $19,000 of it in his first race in 1995 (his opponent, Naperville City Councilman Jack Tenison, spent over $26,000 in the race). Among Pradel’s current opponents, Councilman Mary Ellingson spent just over $13,000 in her last campaign (2003) and Councilman Doug Krause spent almost $27,000 in his 2002 Republican primary bid for 48th District State House seat against State Representative Jim Meyer. Given the well-established ties of all three candidates, money is not likely to be a major problem - and I wouldn’t be surprised if all three spent in the range of $30,000 - $50,000 each. This may become Naperville’s most expensive mayoral race ever.
Naperville City Council Race News
Appointed City Councilman Grant Wehrli was out of the blocks early with a $100 a head fundraiser December 12th at Feature’s Bar & Grill. According to the Naperville Sun Wehrli has secured the well-connected Ray Kinney for his campaign manager.
Comments 2
Greetings!
I am starting out my own blog focused on Downers Grove and I found this post of yours via Google.
The Downers Grove mayoral race pits the incumbent Brian J. Krajewski against Ron Sandack. One issue here in Downers Grove is the incumbent’s record of fundraising, including raising over $500,000 in campaign funds over 8 years, including an uncontested race 4 years ago.
The incumbent holds an annual golf outing and adds the net proceeds to his campaign fund. When asked about this recently, he answered that his golf outing is very much like Mayor Pradel’s.
But is this true?
Mayor Krajewski recently posted this:
Q: How long should a campaign fund remain active and if it is maintained as active, for what purpose(s) is/should the money (be) spent?
A: The length for which a campaign fund should remain active is really a candidate-specific decision. Our campaign committee will remain open as long as I hold elective office. I have been very fortunate that so many Downers Grove residents organize and run an annual Mayors Golf Classic each year. During my eight years as Mayor, with the exception of my re-election kick off event, the annual golf outing is the only fundraising the campaign committee has done. The Downers Grove residents modeled the annual golf outing after the Naperville residents who organize an annual golf outing each year for Naperville’s Mayor George Pradel.
Link
Does Mayor Pradel retain golf outing proceeds in his personal campaign fund, or not? Downers Grove would like to know.
= = =
PS - Dude, how about a preview button?
Cheers!
Posted 19 Mar 2007 at 10:51 pm ¶Hi Bill,
Thanks for the comment (and great to hear Downers Grove politics are being covered by a blog). I don’t see anything wrong with having an ongoing campaign fund - a lot of politicians do it and it does mean there’s less pressure on them during races to raise money (which means more time with voters ideally). I am for publicly financed elections - but until then we have to make due.
Your other major point, about Mayor Pradel of Naperville’s golf fundraiser, I’m less sure of. It’s my understanding that it’s a charitable event with proceeds going to local nonprofits (501(c)3 type of nonprofit - not political ones). If I’m right then Mayor Krajewski seems to making an inappropriate comparison. I’ll try to confirm my understanding and report back.
Speak to you soon!
Posted 22 Mar 2007 at 12:11 am ¶Post a Comment