Monday, April 30, 2018

And he's not even going to run!

Rahm racks up campaign cash, fund nears $5 million

Fran Spielman
@fspielman | email

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has a way to go to match the record $24 million he raised to survive Chicago’s first mayoral run-off.

But, he’s getting there.

One week after dropping $1.6 million into his campaign fund, Emanuel deposited another $866,100.

That leaves him with nearly $4.7 million, running circles around a field of mayoral challengers that seems to be getting more crowded by the day.

With fundraising limits for all mayoral candidates lifted by millionaire businessman Willie Wilson’s $100,000 contribution to himself, Emanuel was free to tap his deep reservoir of heavy-hitters.

The new filing includes three major trade unions: the Ironworkers Political Fund ($250,000); Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters PAC ($100,000) and IBEW Local 134 ($50,000).

The carpenters are part of the investment group that purchased the Chicago Sun-Times.

Other large contributions to Emanuel’s fund came from: Jeffrey Hecktman, CEO of Hilco Global ($50,000); investment manager Muneer Satter ($55,600); Howard Gottlieb ($50,000) and Dick Wolf and his Wolf Entertainment, producers of the locally-produced television series “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago PD” and “Chicago Med” ($16,700).

The new donors also include: Bernard Schwartz, CEO of BLS Investments ($100,000); Eli Broad ($25,000) and Michael Polsky, CEO of Invenergy LLC ($25,000).

Wilson acknowledged when he busted the caps that Emanuel had the most to gain.

After all, the mayor has a legendary fundraising Rolodex filled with high rollers that’s the envy of Democrats across the nation.

But Wilson argued that this time around, the mountain of cash that will allow Emanuel to blanket the television airwaves with campaign commercials “ain’t gonna do him no good. … He’s done so wrong for the citizens of Chicago.”

By ratcheting up his fundraising, Emanuel may be hoping to intimidate his opponents. But so far, it doesn’t appear to be working.

Last week, battled Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown joined a crowded field that already includes: fired Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy; former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas; Chicago Principals and Administrators Association President Troy LaRaviere; tech entrepreneur Neal Sales-Griffin and community activist Ja’Mal Green.

Chicago Police Board President Lori Lightfoot and County Commissioner Bridget Gainer are also considering entering the race.

If Gainer jumps in, she will have a leg up on the competition. She is a proven fundraiser with $804,142 in her campaign fund, second only to Emanuel’s running total of $4.7 million.

But, many of Gainer’s donors also contribute to Emanuel. And they are unlikely to risk taking sides against a two-term incumbent mayor.

16 comments:

  1. Anonymous4/30/2018

    Gainer as a NO SHOW county commissioner doesn't do much to impress. She'll fit right into the rest of this crop of losers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4/30/2018

      Gainer is going to run and win.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4/30/2018

      Its pretty tough to run on an invisible record, especially when she's been invisible about 80% of the time in the job she currently holds. Why give her a "better" job?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous4/30/2018

      Where do you think that story came from? Could it be Rahm? What else do they have in their file folder on the Gainer family?

      Delete
  2. Anonymous4/30/2018

    I want to know where this rumor is coming from I’ve been hearing it everywhere. Everything seems like he’s going to run. Kass from the tribune says Rahm will lose by a landslide in a run off against Vallas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4/30/2018

      Daleys and Joyces are pushing Vallas. I don't think they can appreciate how repulsive he is. Ask the people that have worked with him.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4/30/2018

      Are they backing Vallas?

      Delete
  3. Anonymous4/30/2018

    Under the newer campaign laws Rahm wont be able to keep the money when he leaves office. He has to refund it, donate it to any other candidate, donate it to charity period. If he started the fund before 1992? he could keep it like 401k and spend as long as he paid the taxes on it. That is why the daley, burke, hynes rosty, and the old timers had big war chests on the way out.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous5/01/2018

    Tony Martin is our man.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous5/01/2018

    Joyce's are not pushing Vallas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5/01/2018

      Who are Joyce’s pushing?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5/02/2018

      They backed Tony Martin

      Delete
    3. Anonymous5/02/2018

      I would like to see one of the Joyce's back in the chair. Things always ran good with them.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous5/02/2018

    Nobody knows because they don't talk. When they do, its the cats meow.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous5/02/2018

    The Joyce's didn't back Tony Martin not even sure if they know Tony Martin.

    ReplyDelete