Ann Williams
(Chicago, IL) – January 20, 2010. In the money race to succeed State Rep. John Fritchey for his House seat on Chicago’s north side, former assistant attorney general Ann Williams has out-raised opponents and fellow attorneys Dan Farley and Ed Mullen.
According to campaign finance statements filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections, Williams hauled in $90,766 over the last six months, Farley pulled in $80,370—of which $45,000 is family loans, and Mullen brought in just $31,593.
Additionally, Williams, who today was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune, has the most cash-on-hand with $43,586; Farley has $18,868; and Mullen only $9,343.
By demonstrating real fund-raising muscle, Williams, a former staff member to both House Speaker Michael Madigan and Attorney General Lisa Madigan, clearly will go the distance in this race, and she can credibly claim the front-runner status.
Here is how the candidates’ money breaks-out:
Ann Williams:
- $90,766—Total raised
- $56,068—Individual contributions
- $29,350—PAC or political committee contributions
- $5,348—Loans from Williams to her campaign
- $43,586—Cash on hand
State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) is William’s largest contributor, dropping in $6,600.
Dan Farley:
- $80,370–Total raised
- $26,695—Individual contributions
- $8,675—PAC or political committee contributions
- $45,000–Loans from Farley’s wife and mother to the campaign
- $18,868—Cash on hand
Farley has the distinction of generating bi-partisan contributions from two former Illinois Senate Presidents–$250 each from Phil Rock and Pate Philip.
Ed Mullen:
- $31,593–Total raised
- $30,593—Individual contributions
- $1,000—PAC or political contributions
- $9,343—Cash on hand
Mullen is his own largest contributor, kicking in $4,800 of his own dough.
In the race to succeed Fritchey, Farley has the organizational muscle of Alderman Eugene Schulter’s 47th Ward Regular Democratic Organization; Mullen has the shoe-leather after knocking on 10,000 doors; and Williams has the dough.
And in politics, money is the mother’s milk of the game—though in this yuppy district it’s organic soy.
Gov. Pat Quinn
I disagree with your stance on the money issue. It helps but if you have no record of any community based service, no documented volunteer hours and no real roots in a community you won’t be elected as a state rep. I have been looking and I can’t find Ms Williams name attached to anything in this community. Enjoy your blog, great reading very cool. Melanie Caputo N Leavitt Ave
Posted by Melanie Caputo | January 21, 2010, 10:48 AMMelanie,
You may be right. I may be right.
Stay tuned.
Thank you for reading.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | January 21, 2010, 11:12 AMI may sound naive, but aren’t there any strong Independents and Republicans who can win here? The Scott Brown phenomenon shows that people are growing very tired of politics as usual, and the independent and more conservatie voters seem to prove this. Besides, people are tired of the stranglehold that Democrats have long held on the Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois.
Posted by Barbara Kennerly | January 21, 2010, 4:32 PMHi, Barbara,
The short answer to your question is: no.
Thank you for reading.
David Ormsby
Posted by David Ormsby | January 21, 2010, 4:34 PMWhen you say “community service, documented volunteer hours, and real community roots,” do you mean being apart of the 47th Ward Organization. I guess you could count pushing candidates that are being back by the machine as “volunteer hours.”
It takes a lot more than stacking your resume with “community groups,” some of which do not even exist, to be a State Representative.
Posted by Eric Holmes | January 25, 2010, 9:12 PM