From The State Journal-Register:

GOP chairman files complaint against Blagojevich

By MIKE RAMSEY
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

CHICAGO - Campaign staff for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rod Blagojevich failed to provide required information about dozens of financial contributors, state Republican Party leaders charged Monday.

Illinois GOP chairman Gary MacDougal announced he has filed a legal complaint with the State Board of Elections. His comments came as front-runner Blagojevich was receiving a labor endorsement from firefighters that eluded his opponent, Republican Jim Ryan.

Candidates in the Nov. 5 election filed their latest fund-raising reports last week, covering the period from Jan. 1 through June 30. In 266 instances, the Blagojevich campaign did not disclose the occupations and employers of donors who gave more than $500, according to Republicans. In 117 cases, the campaign did not provide basic addresses for donors, they said.

"I think they're covering up for something, either an unwillingness to disclose or a lack of competence in the campaign," MacDougal said during a news conference at his party's Chicago office.

Blagojevich called the allegations "a bunch of baloney" but conceded that his campaign was still compiling information about some contributors. The Chicago congressman said amendments would be filed within a couple of weeks.

"All of that's a work in progress. None of that is a violation of any of the rules. The delay itself is not a violation," Blagojevich said.

State law requires a political campaign to disclose information about the employer and occupation of each person who contributes more than $500. If it fails to do that, the campaign must state that it made a good-faith effort to provide the details.

In several cases, the Blagojevich campaign does neither, according to the latest electronic documents filed with the Board of Elections. In one instance, the report lists an Alan Dixon of Fairview Heights as giving $1,000 without providing information about his occupation or employer or whether the campaign made a good-faith effort to determine them.

Dixon, the former U.S. senator from Illinois, said he cut the Blagojevich campaign a check in June that indicated he's now an attorney. He defended his fellow Democrat.

"A candidate has nothing to do with it," Dixon said about record-keeping. "When you're out raising millions of dollars, you don't know how it's being done. In all fairness, his people should be careful in compliance with the law."

The state GOP organization noted that the campaign of its governor candidate, Ryan, listed occupation and employer information for virtually all contributors of more than $500. A hearing officer initially will hear the Republican Party's complaint, according to an official with the State Board of Elections.

Blagojevich on Monday walked away with two high-profile endorsements. Both the Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local No. 2 and the statewide Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois, with a combined membership of 11,000, threw their support behind him.

Ryan, the state's attorney general, had received backing from the state firefighter organization during his contested Republican primary.

"This is not a slap at Jim Ryan," Dave Foreman, president of the AFFI, said during a news conference at a Chicago firehouse. "The fact of the matter is, we believe Rod Blagojevich was more enthusiastic, more energetic, seemed like he was very sincere and concerned about our issues."

Mike Ramsey can be reached at (312) 857-2323 or cnsramsey@aol.com.