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* There are two words missing from this story…
Businessman Chris Kennedy became the first big name Democrat to announce his candidacy for governor in February — but he has yet to report some traditional campaign expenditures, including payments for well-known consultants, rented office space, campaign T-shirts and stickers and travel expenses.
Kennedy, the son of the late Robert F. Kennedy, announced his candidacy via a video sent to supporters and he reiterated in an email this week that he’s running his campaign for voters, not for “political insiders.” That was in response to reports that the Democratic establishment is instead rounding up early support for J.B. Pritzker instead.
But while Kennedy announced his run on Feb. 8, he didn’t make expenditures until March 28 — nearly seven weeks later, according to his quarterly report filed with the state Board of Elections on April 17. The filing reports expenditures, contributions and debts and obligations through March 31.
Political insiders have criticized Kennedy for his long history of flirting with running for various offices without ever actually taking the plunge. But his campaign staff dismissed any speculation that his light spending reports signal a lack of commitment to the campaign, insisting, “Chris is in this race to stay.”
Kennedy campaign officials say a complete list of expenditures will be detailed on the next quarterly report, which isn’t due until July 15.
“The campaign paid the bills when they were due and any further questions you have will be answered on the next quarterly report,” Kennedy spokesman Mark Bergman said.
A rival Democratic campaign was pushing this narrative a few weeks ago. Kennedy’s not reporting expenditures, so that must mean he’s either shady or he’s not serious about running.
But, as I said above, the story is missing two words: “Mike” and “Kasper.”
Kasper is the attorney for Kennedy’s campaign fund. He is kinda infamous for taking full advantage of a state law (that he probably wrote) which doesn’t require reporting campaign contributions until after they’re deposited and expenditures until after they are invoiced/paid, and then timing those deposits and expenditures to the benefit of the campaign committee. Remember the minor uproar last year when the group opposing the remap reform constitutional amendment didn’t report contributions even though some labor unions reported making them? That was Kasper’s doing.
All in good time.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 22, 17 @ 10:01 am
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This is probably the one real campaign function I wouldn’t ding Kennedy on if you’re another candidate’s crew.
That’s why it went to the Press. Kasper isn’t the person you’d like to go toe to toe on reporting in campaigns.
The next thing you know, your campaign has a dozen procedural questions that Kasper could tie your Crew in knots, politically, for days.
I’ll wait and watch…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 22, 17 @ 10:08 am
Mike Kasper. Mike Kasper. That name sounds familiar. You mean Mike Kasper is the lawyer for the guy now claiming another campaign is being backed by Madigan. Golly, that can’t be right.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 22, 17 @ 10:11 am
Every time I see the name Mike Kasper, I know that a team has a smart pro. And that we all hope Mike’s life outside of work is happy.
Comment by Amalia Monday, May 22, 17 @ 10:15 am
Kasper could tie your Crew in knots…
True enough — sadly, too many election related complaints are about bleeding opponents and are devoid of merit. Many candidacies have been crippled by the time spent on defending challenges without substance. There are no real penalties for bringing an unsubstantiated complaint.
Comment by Walter Concrete Monday, May 22, 17 @ 10:16 am
I looked at their filing in April and I was genuinely surprised to not see payroll. The rest of it doesn’t really matter but not seeing payroll jumped out at me for two reasons, 1) it meant he didn’t have a team in place or 2) it meant that either the few people he had could afford to go without a paycheck for a while (which meant he had no worker bees) or it meant they were getting paid out of some other pot of money which is potentially in violation. All of the other stuff doesn’t really matter but I did think it was odd that they didn’t show any payroll.
Comment by The Captain Monday, May 22, 17 @ 11:23 am
If i were Kennedy id be more concerned with the poor fundraising than this. If A-1s are accurate the money isn’t exactly flowing in so far.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 22, 17 @ 11:40 am
So Kasper is the attorney for Kennedy’s campaign and yet there is the narrative that Madigan is going full tilt for Pritzker.
Not to say that they it isn’t impossible for both to be true, but it makes me wonder.
Comment by Anonish Monday, May 22, 17 @ 11:54 am
Anonish,
Yea, I was wondering about that too. Kasper wouldn’t have taken the gig without Madigan’s blessing. But Kennedy keeps attacking Pritzker for being the outsider??? Huh??
Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 22, 17 @ 12:40 pm
Kennedy has Brendan and that is a mighty good thing!
Comment by Amalia Monday, May 22, 17 @ 12:45 pm
Only in Springfield can the corrupt write the laws to make their corruption legal.
Comment by Not It Monday, May 22, 17 @ 3:08 pm