From the SJ-R:

Davlin: Contributors have to pick a side
Mayor won’t take money from those who give to rivals

By BERNARD SCHOENBURG
POLITICAL WRITER

Published Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin said Monday that he’s imposing a new rule on campaign contributors: He won’t take your money if you give cash to another candidate for mayor.

“I think that the individual needs to support one or the other of the candidates, based on what they stand for,” he said.

Davlin, who’s running for a second term in the spring, said his reason is philosophical and practical - that donors should support a candidate’s ideas, and that campaign spending should be reined in.

Contributors to more than one candidate help increase the cost of the contest, he said.

And, the mayor said the rule applies only to new contributions.

“I want to give fair warning,” Davlin said. If people give to another candidate for mayor as well as to him, “I’m going to return their money.”

One of his rivals in the mayor’s race, Ward 10 Ald. Bruce Strom, labeled the idea “bizarre” and said it seems to be a “veiled threat” against people donating to any candidate but Davlin.

Davlin said the new rule is “100 percent my thought.”

“I just feel strongly about it,” he said. “Get behind a candidate that you like their philosophy. ... Either support them or support their opponent.”

Davlin also confirmed that he received $32,500 Sunday night at a private dinner put on by unions representing operating engineers, laborers, carpenters and teamsters.

The mayor said that before that donation was made, he already had $298,000 in his campaign fund.

“I believe there’s a commitment of another $50,000 from various unions and other entities,” Davlin added.

Strom said he has about $44,000 in his campaign fund and hasn’t had a fundraiser in three years.

“It seems strange that he wants to write rules on how people can participate in a campaign, and he’s choosing to do it at a time when he clearly has a great deal of money,” Strom said.

“It’s not unusual for businesses and labor unions and other people in the community to contribute to more than one candidate for the same office because, oftentimes, they are interested in allowing both candidates, or multiple candidates, to run a reasonable campaign,” Strom added.

Davlin said he’s proud to have raised a sizable campaign fund from various sources.

Sangamon County GOP Chairman Tony Libri, who ran against Davlin for mayor in 2003 and backs Strom in this election, said Davlin is “trying to trap my guy” with the self-imposed rule.

“He’s wanting to hold down the amount that can be raised because he’s got a sufficient pot already,” Libri said, also accusing Davlin of having “taken money from anybody that will give it to him,” including city contractors.

“He ought to not take money from anybody who does business with the city, and I would advise Bruce Strom not to do that, and I would advise the mayor and Bruce Strom to return any money they have been given” by such businesses.

Strom said he doesn’t think such a return is an issue for him, given the length of time since he’s had a fundraiser.

The nonpartisan city primary will be on Feb. 27 for offices for which there are more than two candidates.

The general election will be on April 17.