Sullivan bemoans Chicago cash entering campaign

Sullivan bemoans Chicago cash entering campaign

6 months, 2 weeks ago

State Senate race between incumbent and Randy Frese reaches homestretch

From the Sen. John Sullivan campaign:

Outside groups representing what local media has called “Chicagoland interests” are flooding the airwaves and mailboxes of the 47th District with a huge influx of cash in the final days of the campaign for State Senate, even using locally-based groups as a “pass-through” for their huge amounts of cash. 

In the month of October alone, outside special interest groups have spent over $100,000 on independent expenditures, the vast majority of which has gone to fund negative attacks on State Senator John Sullivan (D – Rushville).

“The voters in this district should know: wealthy Chicago-area politicians, special interests and PACs are trying to determine the outcome of this election,” said Sullivan. “While these outside interests attempt to buy this election, I and my team of local volunteers have knocked on over 30,000 doors and we will continue to spread my campaign’s message, one-on-one and face-to-face.”

In addition to the tens of thousands of dollars being spent to distort Sullivan’s record by Political Action Committees (PACs) based in Washington, DC and Cook County, wealthy Chicagoland donors are also funneling large amounts of money through a Quincy-based PAC to fund even more negative attacks against Sullivan.

The Quincy Journal reported this on Friday, October 26, 2012, writing: “Citizens for a Better Quincy … has received $60,000 over the last 10 days from Chicagoland interests. The PAC has served as a pass-through for those funds to be used for the production and placement of television ads opposing State Sen. John Sullivan (D-Rushville).”

Sullivan pointed out the stark irony that these very negative attacks that falsely claim he is too closely tied to Chicago politics, are in fact being funded by Chicagoland interests.

“I’ve worked hard throughout my career, both in business and as your State Senator, to build a solid record of working hard, being honest, and bringing folks together to find solutions,” said Sullivan. “Folks in western Illinois know me, know my family, and know the truth about my independent record. The only agenda I represent is western Illinois’ agenda. I’ll stand behind my record and with the folks in western Illinois over these outside groups and their partisan politics any day.”

From the Randy Frese campaign:

John Sullivan sent out a release chastising Randy Frese, candidate for the 47th Senate District, regarding campaign commercials recently released by an independent expenditure committee.  Kimber Beckler, of the Frese for Senate campaign, released the following statement today.

“As John should be aware due to his sponsoring of legislation regulating independent expenditures in political campaigns, Randy Frese has no control over what independent expenditure groups do with their messaging.  I find it laughable that John touts his honesty with his constituents when just two weeks ago he was forced to pull down a campaign ad for the lies it contained about Randy Frese.  That is a remarkable thing, and rarely happens in the modern political arena.  In fact, I don’t think that I have seen a John Sullivan campaign piece yet that is honest.”

“John is almost fully funded by Springfield and Chicago political insiders who are buying his votes for when they need it.  He seems content to line his pockets with Chicago money, yet wants to cast stones at Randy for independent expenditure groups.  John has sold himself and his votes to Chicago, and he has for the past decade.  People who are concerned for the future of Illinois have noticed and are working to give John the ‘term limit’ at the ballot box that he so frequently speaks about.”

“I hope that for the remainder of this race, John and his manager, Rebecca Campell, use his time to focus on the issues that are affecting western Illinois.  He may say that his heart is with western Illinois, however his votes lie with Chicago.  Randy Frese will be a clean break from the Chicago-style politics that have been played by John Sullivan and his mentors:  Barack Obama, Pat Quinn, Rod Blagojovich, Mike Madigan, and John Cullerton.  Meanwhile, Randy is concentrating on his grassroots effort and making sure that he is forthright with the voters of the 47th District.  He hardly has time for petty distractions such as these.”