Meister busts the cap
Tuesday, Jan 5, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From an Illinois State Board of Elections e-mail sent to Cook County Circuit Clerk candidate Shirley Coleman…
On January 4, 2016, the Illinois State Board of Elections received a Notification of Self-Funding from Jacob Meister, a candidate for Clerk of the Circuit Clerk, Cook County. This filing is available for viewing on the Board’s website, at www.elections.il.gov. As a result, as a candidate for the office of Clerk of the Circuit Clerk, Cook County, you are now permitted to accept contributions in excess of any contribution limits imposed by 10 ILCS 5/9-8.5(b)
The exemption from contribution limits only affects candidates for the office of Clerk of the Circuit Clerk, Cook County, and lasts through the end of the current election cycle for this office, March 15, 2016; except that if Jacob Meister is nominated at the primary election, the exemption from contribution limits will remain in effect through the subsequent election cycle for the office, ending on December 31, 2016.
Meister gave his campaign $300,000.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:43 am:
I can think of no good reason why anyone would put up $300K of their own money to be clerk of the circuit court.
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:46 am:
“I can think of no good reason why anyone would put up $300K of their own money to be clerk of the circuit court.”
He can double his investment by instituting a “blue jeans Thursday”.
– MrJM
- Paddyrollingstone - Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:54 am:
He left me a message a month or so ago looking for a donation. I’m glad I did not call back
- Gooner - Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:59 am:
In that office, he can do more good than in most elected positions.
People are being kept in jail because Brown has not updated files. The level of incompetence is staggering.
If you are going to invest in any office with the goal of doing good for a lot of people, that is a good one.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 11:15 am:
Meister must be a glutton for punishment. That office is a mess.
- Just Observing - Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 11:33 am:
“He can double his investment by instituting a “blue jeans Thursday”.”
LOL
Adding… You can have a round-the-clock, multi-person security detail and a Clerk-of-the-Court choir. Those, combined, over four years, certainly add up to more than $300,000.
- Century Club - Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 11:47 am:
Remember when giving your campaign six figures was a big deal? I think Rauner’s PAC found that much in its couch last week.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 12:01 pm:
Moronic. Oh wait, I don’t want to get deleted. How about - this was not a smart thing to do. Why didn’t he put in 249,000 and avoid triggering the cap-busting for as long as possible. We keep seeing this among third rate self-funders. This only helps his adversaries (not that it matters as he’ll get no traction anyway).
- Beelzebub - Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 12:42 pm:
Cynic -
Could you point out the correct way for millionaire self-funders to invest their own money? I’m sure they’d like tips on how to achieve goals through investing.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 1:55 pm:
===point out the correct way for millionaire self-funders to invest their own money?===
Not to speak for my friend Cynic, but political campaigns are a horrible investment. 0 return on investment in most cases, see Hull, Blair.
And then, on the outside chance you win, then you have to govern, which is no fun at all, see Rauner, Bruce.
- Century Club - Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 3:31 pm:
Cynic, it’s $250,000 for statewide campaigns. Meister only needed $100,000 to bust the cap, and it looks like he’s already contributed tens of thousands to his campaign. Avoiding the cap by bumping himself up to $99,000 wouldn’t have given him much of a cash infusion.
- Roscoe Tom - Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 3:45 pm:
Making a “loan” to yourself doesn’t mean you are going to spend it. It costs you hardly anything to get the publicity and if it scares off the possible opposition, they can’t be too bright either.