Republican lawmakers have contributed more than $30,000 to Sen. Wendell Jones, who is facing a serious primary challenge from Rolling Meadows Mayor Thomas F. Menzel.
Illinois Senate President James “Pate” Philip (R-Wood Dale) led the way, donating $15,500 to the Jones campaign this year, while other GOP legislators gave $16,500, according to campaign finance reports due Tuesday.
Sen. Steve Rauschenberger, an Elgin Republican, contributed $6,000 to Jones; Sen. Frank Watson (R-Greenville), the Senate’s assistant majority leader, donated $5,000.
“Sen. Jones is a solid member of the Republican caucus,” Philip spokeswoman Patty Schuh said Tuesday.
Jones, a Palatine Republican, also reported a $10,000 boost Tuesday from the Illinois Education Association. “We had a fundraiser here in Springfield, and that went very well,” Jones said. “Things are looking up.”
Menzel said GOP leaders support Jones because he votes as instructed on issues such as expansion of O’Hare International Airport. Jones opposes the plan endorsed by Gov. George Ryan and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, while Menzel supports it.
Democrat Michael Harry Minton, a divorce attorney from Inverness, will face the winner of the March 19 GOP primary in the 27th District race.
“Wendell is entrenched in the old-boy network and he doesn’t represent the district,” Menzel said. “I’m certainly not going to do just what people tell me to do.”
Menzel’s bid is funded largely by companies that do business in Rolling Meadows, where Menzel has been mayor for seven years.
He reported recently receiving $2,000 each from Christopher B. Burke Engineering of Rosemont, which works for Rolling Meadows, and from William Giambrone, president of Rolling Meadows-based Platinum Mortgage.
Since the beginning of the year, Menzel received $1,500 from the Rosemont firm of Storino, Ramello and Durkin, which does legal work for Rolling Meadows. He also received $1,000 each from Kimball Hill Homes of Rolling Meadows and Chicago-based Bradford Real Estate Services Corp.
Reports also show donations trickling in for two Republicans running for the open seat in the 57th Illinois House District. The new district runs along the Tri-State Tollway between Northbrook and Des Plaines.
Former Des Plaines Ald. Mary Childers reported receiving more than $6,000 this year from supporters including former Des Plaines Mayor Ted Sherwood. Her rival, Des Plaines firefighter Jim Brookman, has pumped $10,000 of his money into his campaign.
Brookman accepted $2,000 from the Lake County Federation of Teachers. He got $1,000 each from Personal PAC, an abortion-rights group, and from the law firm of Joseph Karaganis, attorney for the Suburban O’Hare Commission, the coalition of suburbs opposing airport expansion.
Elaine Nekritz, Northfield Township Democratic committeewoman, is the best-funded candidate in the 57th District.
She had more than $40,000 at the end of last year and raised $19,000 between Jan. 1 and Feb. 17. Backers include unions, teachers and trial lawyers.
The other Democrat running in the 57th District is attorney Dan Scott of Northbrook, who has not done any significant fundraising.
