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More campaign says $250,000 contribution “no big deal”

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Illinois

* Cook County state’s attorney candidate Donna More made some news…

She contributed $250,000 to her campaign on Friday, according to filings with the Illinois State Board of Elections. That made her what is known as a “self-funding candidate” under the law — and eliminated the cap on donations to any candidates in that race.

Before Friday, her family — specifically, her husband and mother — had donated a total of $99,000 to the campaign. Once donations by a candidate or their family to a campaign reach $100,000, that candidate becomes “self-funding” under the law, which means donation limits are no longer in effect. Those limits would have been $5,400 for individuals, $10,800 for corporations or unions and $53,900 for political action committees.

More’s campaign on Friday called the contribution “no big deal.”

“She’s putting her own skin in the campaign because she clearly wants to show the importance of this race, how important this race is to her and to the voters and residents of this county,” her spokesman John E. Davis said.

It goes without saying, but anybody who says a $250,000 contribution is “no big deal” has a completely different sort of life than just about everyone else.

* Meanwhile…

State records show Donna More gave $2,500 to the Rauner campaign in September 2014, a couple of months before the governor unseated Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn. Those records also indicate More has given a total of $15,800 to candidates since 2001, with the rest of the money going to Democrats.

Federal Election Commission records show that since 1997, More also has donated $6,000 to John Ensign, a former Republican senator from Nevada; $500 to former Illinois GOP U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald; and $250 to former Republican U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia. […]

Chicago voting records, meanwhile, show that More voted in the in March 2014 Republican primary, when Rauner was on the ballot. Other than that year, she has voted consistently in Democratic primaries, records indicate.

Gee, I wonder who was on the Republican primary ballot last year?

Hmm. I just can’t think of anybody right now.

* And…

A candidate in the hotly contested Democratic primary race for Cook County state’s attorney has added a former Chicago gang leader and ex-felon to her staff. But Chicago attorney Donna More calls Wallace “Gator” Bradley a “role model” deserving of second chances.

Bradley, a former member of the Gangster Disciples, was convicted of burglary and armed robbery in the 1970s. He served a year in prison and three years on work release. In 1990, he was pardoned by Gov. Jim Thompson for what Bradley describes as “the work I put back into the community.”

These days, Bradley’s is an “urban translator” and political consultant for More’s campaign. His main task, he tells me, is educating voters, particularly in black neighborhoods, to understand “that justice cannot be defined by race, religion or party.”

Recent campaign records show More’s campaign paid him $12,875 in less than two months.

He’s also worked for congressmen Danny Davis, Bobby Rush and Jesse Jackson Jr., among others. Democratic operatives say More has taken a controversial step by paying him directly out of her payroll.

* Related…

* Judge acquits Chicago police commander of abuse charge despite DNA evidence: The ruling marked another setback for State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, who despite bringing first-degree-murder charges recently against Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke for shooting Laquan McDonald 16 times has been barraged with calls for her to resign over delaying the release of the dash-cam video of the fatal shooting until 13 months later. Prosecutors had no immediate comment on Cannon’s ruling, but an Alvarez’s spokeswoman said the office would be releasing a statement shortly.

* Devine says ‘it’s awfully hard to judge’ Alvarez on McDonald case

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:14 pm

Comments

“More’s campaign paid [Wallace “Gator” Bradley] $12,875 in less than two months.”

I’m pretty sure I could have found her an “urban translator” for half that much.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:18 pm
As I was saying last week, Donna More doesn’t have what it takes to be they type of excellent State’s Attorney who can change the culture of that office.

Her GOP credentials, self-finding, and people she admires and associates with (Gator? Really?) only underline why she should not have that job.

Comment by Keyrock Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:22 pm
These are the tell-tale signs of a Rauner-style campaign. No qualms with large sums of money, trying to buy support in the African-American community, double talk on past political contributions. ILGo/Rauner maybe sees this as a pick up opportunity given the McDonald case.

Comment by chi Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:22 pm
Democrats, Raunerites are here to take your party.

It’s up to you to take it seriously.

I’ll know in March how… prepared… you are.

The only thing More hasn’t said or done is have a Spouse go on the Tee-Ver to say More has no Social Agenda or clouted a kid into Payton Prep, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:28 pm
OW - I’m pretty sure she doesn’t drop her “g”s.

Comment by WhoKnew Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:30 pm
Donna Donna Donna. Don’t you realize you should have given yourself $249,000 to avoid triggering the self-funder provision as long as possible. Another rookie mistake.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:31 pm
Could someone translate “urban translator” for me?

Comment by And I Approved This Message Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:36 pm
- Chicago Cynic -,

With less than 90 days left in the Primary, I’d blow the caps too.

The other two, in the next 90 days, will not be able to compete, financially. They need to be able to build without the cash.

Days before Christmas? Yeah, I’d blow the caps too.

- WhoKnew -,

That’s the New Year’s Resolution.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:37 pm
When does she roll out “You don’t want a Fox guarding the hen house.” ?

Comment by old pol Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:43 pm
=Could someone translate “urban translator” for me?= The urban translator can readily decipher City and Suburban lingo.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:44 pm
From her campaign web page-

“I’m not a politician who wants a job. I’m a prosecutor who wants to do a job.”

It should read..

“I’m not a politician who wants a job. I’m a wealthy Raunerite who wants to buy the job.”

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:45 pm
**Donna Donna Donna. Don’t you realize you should have given yourself $249,000 to avoid triggering the self-funder provision as long as possible. Another rookie mistake.**

The self-funding threshold for a county-wide race is $100k, not $250k. And she was already at $99k, and with her burn rate (in quarter 3, she raised $69k, spent $130k) she likely needs the cash.

And holy crap, consultants are making a lot of cash on More.

Comment by AlabamaShake Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:53 pm
Of course she busted the spending limits. She believes she has access to Rauner’s circle - who really can cut way more than a $250,000 check and it’s no big deal.

Comment by Century Club Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 12:59 pm
Still not sure who I will be supporting in this race but it will NOT be Ms More.

Comment by Because I Said So.... Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 1:17 pm
I thought Evans was done for after he refused to testify in his defense, even with the non-jury trial.

Comment by Wumpus Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 2:42 pm
I don’t want a state’s attorney who thinks that a quarter million dollars isn’t a big deal.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 2:49 pm
Well, that’s at least two for IllinoisGO.

Comment by walker Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 3:10 pm
==
- Amalia - Friday, Dec 4, 15 @ 1:55 pm:

@Anon414, that sounds right to me! you would think they would be trotting out Glenn Evans right about now, but nothing. that’s because she just does the work and believes it should stand on it’s own. I’d rather have the prosecutor than the pol.

- crazybleedingheart - Friday, Dec 4, 15 @ 2:40 pm:

Amalia, I’ll be sure to remember that you said that Anita’s work on Evans would stand on its own.==

As promised.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 3:13 pm
note to the Sun Times, the verdict is not guilty. not found innocent.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 3:22 pm
crazybleedingheart, I guess you would prefer that the case not be brought in the first place. You should make your sentiments known to the victim.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 3:38 pm
Maybe if she’d been prosecuting cops for the last 7 years, Alvarez wouldn’t have been so fatally rusty on Servin and Evans and s…l…o…w on VanDyke.

If 3 this year isn’t enough of a pattern for you, don’t worry, the year isn’t over and there are more police beneficiaries of her “crock pot” prosecutions (low and slow, dump and stir) we could be discussing.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 3:52 pm
Urban Translator - Check

Innovation Consultant …

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 3:53 pm
Well, twenty million isn’t a big deal for Rauner. More’s still following his lead and would be happy to accept donations from his wealthy friends.
#RaunerDemocrats

Comment by Wensicia Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 4:21 pm
@ Amalia - “note to the Sun Times, the verdict is not guilty. not found innocent. ”

The Sun-Times is not the only media outlet that uses “innocent” rather than “not guilty”. In fact, it’s fairly standard.

Years ago, I asked a reporter friend why that was. She said is was because it was too easy to drop the “not” accidentally, or for people not to hear it.

Comment by JoanP Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 4:55 pm
@Joan P, pity. now if he goes after a finding of innocent…..

Comment by Amalia Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 5:46 pm
I think it’s fair to use “innocent” since you’re presumed innocent and only a finding of guilty changes that.

Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 5:47 pm
If she was smart she would have run as a Republican ala Jack O’Malley and would have had substantial Rauner and Friends money

Comment by Roscoe Tom Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 5:47 pm
Rich — Just curious why my post with the links to the original “urban translator” articles was deleted? Respectfully, I don’t know what earned their deletion

Comment by Just Observing Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 9:03 pm
^^ Oops… disregard Rich.

Comment by Just Observing Monday, Dec 14, 15 @ 9:34 pm
== More’s campaign on Friday called the contribution “no big deal.” ==

Bet several million IL citizens wouldn’t see it that way!

Comment by sal-says Tuesday, Dec 15, 15 @ 8:03 am
I think a state’s attorney whose campaign is being funded by organized gambling is a bad idea.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Dec 15, 15 @ 8:13 am