[Russ has asked that I begin posting his columns here. His website can be found here.]

BERRIOS IS NEW CHAMPION OF NW SIDE FUNDRAISERS

ANALYSIS & OPINION BY RUSS STEWART

If money is the mother’s milk of politics, then there’s a whole bunch of Northwest Side politicians and Democratic ward organizations that don’t have to wait until the cows come home.

In fact, according to the latest financial disclosure reports filed in Springfield, Board of Review Commissioner Joe Berrios, the 31st Ward Democratic Committeeman and county Democratic chairman, has emerged as the area’s most prolific fundraiser, surpassing 36th Ward Alderman Bill Banks, the council’s zoning committee chairman.

There are five political committees under Berrios’ control: Citizens for Berrios, Citizens to Re-Elect Berrios, Friends of Berrios, 31st Ward Democrats, and Citizens for Maria Berrios, who is his daughter, and a state representative. As set forth in the adjacent chart, those committees raised $651,379 between Jan. 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007, and had a cash-on-hand as of July 1 of $1,605,833, of which $1,300,000 is invested. The secret of Berrios’ success: He is one of three Board of Review commissioners, and they lower commercial and residential property tax assessments. As a result, large corporations and property owners trip over themselves in their rush to give him donations.

Banks is in a similar position: His committee must approve all zoning changes. He controls the 36th Ward Democratic Organization, Friends of Bill Banks, and Committee to Elect Banks; his close ally, State Senator Jim DeLeo (D-10), offices with him, and has his Committee to Elect DeLeo. In the past 18 months, Banks and DeLeo have raised a combined $1,181,353, and had a combined cash-on-hand of $1,415,486.

The King of Cash in Chicago is Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, who is also the 13th Ward Democratic Committeeman, and state Democratic chairman. His two committees, along with his alderman, raised $2,267,145 in the past 18 months. Most of Madigan’s donors are Springfield lobbyists.

By comparison, County Commissioner John Daley, the mayor’s brother, chairman of the board’s finance committee, and 11th Ward Committeeman, raised $514,192, and Democrats in the 19th Ward, where former assessor Tom Hynes was once committeeman, raised $687,883.

Clearly, those that do are those that get. Every ward organization aspires to have an influential alderman, along with a county officeholder or state legislator. This broadens their ability to do favors, thereby expanding their donor base.

Here’s a look at other wards:

41st Ward: Democratic Committeeman Ralph Capparelli is sitting on a bundle of cash: $293,056. In fact, if he sits much longer, it might actually hatch. Capparelli lost his House seat in 2004, but his Citizens for Capparelli raised $426,531 in the past 18 months, which included a transfer in of a certificate of deposit worth $425,808. Capparelli then paid himself $418,582, and taxes of $5,244. He still has $293,056 in the account, plus $3,180 in Friends of Capparelli, and $5,093 in the 41st Ward Democrats’ account. Some ward Democrats accuse Capparelli of being a “do nothing” committeeman, but if Capparelli runs again in 2008, and has an opponent, he would have to fight the pain and spend some of his money.

Capparelli expended none of his cash to defeat Republican Alderman Brian Doherty in 2007. Doherty raised $157,345 and had $9,419 on-hand. His ally, State Representative Mike McAuliffe (R-20), who beat Capparelli in 2004, raised $195,797, and had $15,180 on-hand. Doherty and McAuliffe hope that Capparelli keeps on sitting.

45th Ward: Alderman Pat Levar recently took over as ward Democratic committeeman, replacing the late Tom Lyons. He took over a bare cupboard. There’s only $831 in the party account. But Levar survived a tough 2007 re-election campaign, will likely be unopposed for committeeman in 2008, and can replenish his account. Facing three foes, Levar raised $406,555, and had $21,470 on-hand. His principal opponent, Terry Boyke, raised $84,799. If Levar runs for another term in 2011, he’ll raise another $400,000.

32nd Ward: The Dumb and Dumber Award goes to 32nd Ward Democratic Committeeman Terry Gabinski and ousted Alderman Ted Matlak. According to disclosures, Gabinski raised $209,388 for the ward organization, and Matlak raised $609,452 for the Matlak 2007 Campaign. They expended a combined $842,838 to re-elect Matlak. His opponent, Scott Waguespack, spent a measly $105,714 – and won by 122 votes. How can anybody lose with an 8-1 cash advantage? With just $6,040 on-hand, and without an alderman in his pocket, Gabinski is a sure loser for re-election in 2008.

State Representative John Fritchey (D-11) will run. He raised $218,995 over the past 18 months, and had $59,069 on-hand.

36th Ward: DeLeo was unopposed in 2006, yet raised $661,352, and spent $965,457, some of it going to other Democratic state legislators, with $429,848 being invested in a certificate of deposit. Banks faced Nick Sposato in 2007, who raised $49,215; Banks raised $520,001 and spent $538,382. Sposato learned a lesson: When you’re outspent 10-1, you lose.

38th Ward: Alderman Tom Allen was unopposed in 2007, but still raised $290,859, and has $216,905 on-hand. Allen may run for State’s Attorney in 2008.

39th Ward: The Laurino Machine is alive and well, but it could use a lot more cows. Alderman Marge Laurino raised $171,231 and spent $267,087 to win an easy re-election. But she has only $12,320 on-hand, and the ward’s Democratic organization has a negative balance of $296. State Representative John D’Amico (D-15), Marge’s nephew, raised $108,505, and had $81,427 on-hand.

50th Ward: As Alderman Berny Stone now knows, it takes money to win elections. During 2006, Stone raised a puny $49,694 for his Stone Campaign Committee, and $105,350 for the Democratic Club of the 50th Ward. When he got into a runoff with Naisy Dolar, he ramped it up, generating $350,097. Overall, Stone spent $550,910, while Dolar spent $245,797. That 2-1 advantage was critical. Stone now has $44,601 on-hand, while Dolar, who is running in 2011, has $2,685.

49th Ward: If you can’t raise the money, you can’t win the election. Alderman Joe Moore postures as a reformer, but he’s a prodigious fundraiser. Moore raised $799,359 and spent $945,839, with $78,060 on-hand. Loser Don Gordon has taken the close election to court, charging voter irregularities. Gordon spent only $161,410.