FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2006 |
Contact:
Cindi Canary
312-335-1767
|
Downstate Judicial Races Set Records
10 Legislative Contests Pass $1M Mark
[CHICAGO] At the close of the 2006 elections, fundraising in judicial and
legislative races set records up and down the state. Fundraising by two candidates
battling to fill a vacancy on the 5th District Appellate Court in southern Illinois
soared to almost six-times the previous record for General Election spending
in an appellate court race in Illinois, and quite possibly the national record
for appellate contests. The fight over one Circuit Court seat in the Metro East
area also seems headed for record-breaking spending. These totals are subject
to revision when disclosure reports are filed early next year.
In addition, 10 races -- five in each chamber-- crossed the $1 million mark.
Previous election cycles saw no more than 7 legislative races break the $1 million
mark. Most of the funds candidates in hotly contested races relied upon came
from legislative leaders, who in turn relied upon special interests with specific
legislative agendas: top donors include teachers unions, gaming interests, telecommunications
companies, and electric utilities. Judicial races were especially dominated
by personal injury plaintiffs, among Democrats, and defendants, among Republicans.
Among judicial races, two stood out for their fundraising: the 5th District
Appellate race in southern Illinois and the race for the Kardis vacancy in 3rd
Circuit, also in southern Illinois. Both look to be replays of the 2004 5th
District Supreme Court race: a proxy war between tort reform advocates and trial
lawyers. The race in this Appellate Court district, which stretches from the
Metro East area to the Indiana border, appears to have broken the record for
spending in a state Appellate Court contest. Most of the money in the race came
as in-kind donations of TV attack ads. Losers were gracious in defeat, though
the impression left for most voters comes from the attack ads. Surveys taken
right after the 2004 Supreme Court race in the same area found that judicial
elections conducted this way do severe damage to popular confidence in the judiciary.
The Circuit Court race in Madison and Bond counties between Don Weber and David
Hylla surged past half a million and will likely break a spending record for
Circuit Court races in Illinois. Circuit Court races rarely draw this kind of
interest from financial donors. With no guarantee that the winner will even
be assigned to hear personal injury cases, both candidates for the Kardis vacancy
are drawing heavily from personal injury interests, plaintiffs for the Democrat
and defendants for the Republican. The race for the Moran vacancy in the same
Circuit is far more typical of Circuit Court races.
Some of the legislative races in the targeted districts likely broke state spending
records; certainly the number, 10, of million dollar races is itself a record.
What all of these expensive legislative races have in common is gigantic transfers
from the legislative leaders, who raised a combined $17.6 million for the General
Election.
In contrast to the hyper-expensive, targeted contests, most legislative races
throughout the state are dominated by a single candidate who will far outspend
any opponent they may have. Almost half of all House races were uncontested,
meaning that voters had no choice at the polling booth. Many of those that were
contested were not seriously challenged, as Illinois’ legislative map,
drawn by a partisan Commission, discourages competition. The vast majority of
incumbent legislators were returned to office with little or no opposition.
In statewide races, Democrats continued their financial dominance. Gov. Rod
Blagojevich, who garnered 49% of the votes for governor, raised 72% of the funds
reported to date. Most of the money raised by statewide candidates has come
in very large increments from donors who gave more than $10,000. Contributions
of this size are banned in most other states and for all federal candidates.
Because Illinois law places no restrictions on giving, some candidates have
become reliant on very large donors.
Final campaign finance reports are due to be filed with the State Board of Elections
during January, 2007. Reported fundraising totals typically represent about
four-fifths of total expenditures, as candidates have not yet had to report
donations of less than $500 raised in the 30 days before the election, nor contributions
received after Election Day.
The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR) is a non-profit, non-partisan
public interest organization conducting research and advocating reforms to promote
public participation in government, address the role of money in politics and
encourage integrity, accountability and transparency in government. The late
U.S. Sen. Paul Simon founded ICPR in 1997.
The Sunshine Project is based at the University of Illinois at Springfield and
is funded by the Joyce Foundation. Its goal is to increase public awareness
and understanding of the role of money in Illinois politics.
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