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In the months leading up to his announcement that he’s seeking a congressional seat, state Sen. Kyle McCarter spent more than $33,000 from his state campaign fund on a political consultant.
He used that state account to pay the consultant even though he wouldn’t be facing re-election as a state senator until 2016.
That same consultant — Elizabeth Van Holt, owner of Isaiah Consulting in Downers Grove — showed up with McCarter when he announced his congressional candidacy on Oct. 7 in Highland.
Here’s the rub: Money from a state campaign fund isn’t supposed to be used for a federal campaign. […]
“This is an attempt by those opposing me to make something of nothing,” said McCarter, a Republican from Lebanon. “If there was anything wrong, I wouldn’t have done it. This was an eight-month contract that I had with Isaiah, and it pertained to my position in the state.”
He’s challenging an incumbent (John Shimkus) in a primary, so things are gonna get brutal. And he doesn’t have a whole lot of friends in Illinois politics, so it’s not like allies will be streaming to his side.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:22 am
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“If there was anything wrong, I wouldn’t have done it.”
Alright, I’m satisfied. No reason to follow up.
Comment by LizPhairTax Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:25 am
So he spent $33,000 for consulting about a race he isn’t running?
Comment by nona Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:26 am
He wasn’t gonna win anyway.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:28 am
===“This is an attempt by those opposing me to make something of nothing,” said McCarter, a Republican from Lebanon. “If there was anything wrong, I wouldn’t have done it. This was an eight-month contract that I had with Isaiah, and it pertained to my position in the state.”===
I hope no one asks for “work-product” showing state things… and McCarter can’t do it…
I hope that never happens.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:28 am
Does the Senator understand the difference between “hard” and “soft” money, and how soft money (state) cannot be used for hard money (federal) functions? This co-mingling of funds demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of campaign rules, and shows him to be the amateur he is.
Comment by Anon Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:29 am
== If there was anything wrong, I wouldn’t have done it. ==
This is a version of Nixon`s assertion that “when the president does it, that means it`s not illegal.”
Comment by nona Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:30 am
He has committed to not run for re-election and yet he pays that large amount of money (or really any) for a campaign consultant?
Good grief, how stupid does he think people are?!
Comment by Really? Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:31 am
Wait until he tries to raise federal money and gets a load of the restrictions for that.
He has a reservoir of good will as deep as a puddle.
Comment by LincolnLounger Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:32 am
“If there was anything wrong, I wouldn’t have done it.”
This is the lamest denial imaginable.
The campaign finance laws are complex and tricky, and it’s easy to make a mistake. It may be that McCarter didn’t realize this was a violation. But the consultant sure as Hell should have known they couldn’t be paid out of state campaign funds to plan a congressional race.
As I said before, it is completely incomprehensible that a state senator, with three years to go until re-election spent $33k on consulting for his senate race in three months. Unless there is a huge paper trail proving this consultant worked only on the state senate race, this won’t pass the smell test.
Shimkus will and should beat McCarter over the had with this and it will not end well for Kyle.
Comment by Adam Smith Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:32 am
Shortest campaign in history? No sense spending more money, this race is decided already. Time to say good bye.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:34 am
==a complete lack of understanding of campaign rules==
Or a complete lack of concern for campaign rules?
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:37 am
So how does this reflect on her other current/former clients? Sandack, Anthony, B. Wheeler, IPI, various people housed at 1871…when you pitch yourself as the expert, you better follow through.
Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:38 am
Prime example where the ego is larger than the accomplishments. Too bad this is a freebie run for the senator.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:39 am
FKA, “lack of understanding of rules” = ignorant; “lack of concern for the rules” = criminal.
Comment by Anon Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:42 am
John Shimkus—never has anyone served so long in Congress with so little to show for it. Although he did promise to serve only 4 or 5 terms and then backed away from that promise.
Comment by HL Mencken Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:51 am
You can’t make a career out of being an outsider. Eventually you have to become an insider to get work done, build acquaintances, do deals, pass your bills and serve your constituents. If you are a simple-minded, or dogged purist, you will struggle in elected office.
McCarter needed to decide if he was an insider, or an outsider. Since he won as an outsider, he remained outside. When you believe in limited government, limited political power and limited taxation - you are limited as an office holder as well.
So we see Shimkus changing from a term-limited outsider, into a career insider. To many of his constituents, Shimkus is a hypocrite. To many of them, they prefer to elect outsiders and there was enough of them to convince McCarter to primary Shimkus.
Yet, outsiders are handicapped against an incumbent. A good incumbent has built a support base, a record of service and a dialog with constituents. Shimkus did this and McCarter has not. Consequently, McCarter is a decided underdog against Shimkus. If the nomination was open, McCarter would have a shot - but not against an incumbent.
Kudos to McCarter for remaining pure, yet he has to be aware that the knife he cuts his political opponents with, cuts him as well. You cannot run as someone favoring limited government, but think your public career is limitless as you promote it.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:52 am
I don’t get to say this kind of thing much, but I’m really glad John McCain pushed so hard for campaign finance reform and gave us McCain-Feingold.
So, hurray for John McCain.
That being said, this is a really big rookie mistake and doesn’t speak well to the quality of service he’s getting from his consultant.
I’m pretty confident one of the first things a consultant should be willing to tell their client is when their client might be breaking laws to pay them.
Though my experience with politics in the state in general suggests that McCain-Feingold is either poorly understood or disregarded by a lot of folks.
Comment by Anon Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:54 am
If he had a contract he might have had to pay the consultant weather they did anything more on his state campaign or not.
Comment by DuPage Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:54 am
Two points come to mind.
1. Senator McCarter is an accountant by schooling and trade, so he of all people should understand doing the books and reports correctly.
2. If he wants to make it about the issues, then all Shimkus has to do is remind people that Senator McCarter can’t even follow basic campaign rules. That’s a pretty big issue for TEA party types.
Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 9:58 am
Isaiah Consulting is a reputable firm that does good work. It shouldn’t be too difficult to show some or all of the work product from the contract.
The contract itself is most likely draft in very loose terms (common practice) and thus of little to no value.
Comment by Madame Defarge Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:06 am
Hey it’s McCarter so don’t start any comment with doesn’t the Senator…..
Meanwhile let’s see if we can find out former Term Limit Hero on a plane with Schock just to even the score this is too good to let go away.
Comment by Anonin' Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:07 am
Welcome to tne NFL, which stands for Not-For-Long if you don’t learn the playbook.
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:08 am
HL - one thing I will say in Shimkus’s defense is that major federal legislation is similar to state legislation. Who sponsors approp bills in the Illinois House or Senate? The approp chairpersons and the caucus leaders. Who sponsored major legislation involving education, concealed carry or 911 changes? Leadership, committee chairpersons or legislators with juice. Same goes for the federal level. The sponsors are always the committee and subcommittee chairpersons. Shimkus barely lost out when he ran for Energy & Commerce Chairman, and he had won that then he would have been the sponsor of major legislation involving the EPA, healthcare and our nation’s energy infrastructure.
Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:10 am
Sorry - meant to say “had he won that” and not “he had won that”. Whoops.
Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:11 am
Is it Karma or just irony that a campaign rule is hounding McCarter’s primary run against a long-term official after he used a campaign rule to take out a long-term official for his current seat?
Comment by transplant Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:20 am
Vanilla Man,
Very nice synopsis. Pretty much spot on.
Comment by Downstate Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:50 am
Several days ago when this story first hit this site a commenter asked asked if “anyone would come to the defense of the Senator”.
There were no takers then and I do not see anyone coming to support my Senator yet today - that says a lot about what he is all about!
Comment by illini Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 10:58 am
Kyle McCarter is a figment of his own imagination or a legend in his own mind. Stick a fork in him he is done. And he talked about former Senator John Jones as being an old boy politician, Geez!
Comment by the old man Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:02 am
Hey now HL Mencken. ..John is on the house committee that banned the incandescent light bulb in 2007…that’s something. .
Comment by observer Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 11:25 am
The Shimkus campaign needs remember, when you point your finger, you always have 3 pointing back at you!
Shimkus’ deputy chief of staff for 19 years, testified under immunity, admitting to laundering millions dollars for Gov Ryan. After her testimony Shimkus rewarded her with a 100k a year job, and Gov. Ryan went to jail.
And! Recently the Edgar County watchdogs reported a former Shimkus aide, who now works for IDOT, is fundraising for Shimkus on state time.
If people want to point out campaign laws potentially being broken, lets not forget about Shimkus’ wrong doing!
Comment by Just the Facts Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 12:18 pm
Just ask the Underground Contractors Association what they think about EVH.
Comment by drop the soapbox Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 12:52 pm
I never thought I would be defending Cong Shimkus ( and I never voted for him ), but here goes -
HLMencken and Vanilla Man are both right - John Shimkus has been an ineffective legislator who has very, very little to show for his 18 years in DC - he is an under-performing legislator who has continually been gerrymandered into relatively safe seats.
Just the Facts - most all of Shimkus initial staff got their start with Gov Ryan - some are still with him earning the big $$$$ and one ( Rodney Davis ) who moved up to become a Congressman in his own right!
I know what to expect from John Shimkus ( very little ) yet I hope the he puts my Sen McCarter in his place. Either way my Congressional District loses!!!
Comment by illini Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 1:13 pm
Comment by John O. Jones Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 4:15 pm
giggling…
Comment by John O. Jones Friday, Nov 6, 15 @ 4:15 pm