SYCAMORE – While other campaigns across Illinois that pit billionaires and millionaires against each other and leading to massive campaign war chests, local races are not garnering nearly the same level of funds. Primaries don't cost as much, but several candidates have raised just a few hundred dollars.
Photos by Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com (Caption: Paul Stoddard, democratic candidate for state representative, talks with Steve Elliot of Malta (left) during an event for the public to meet candidates at O'Leary's Ale House on Friday, Jan. 19, 2018 in DeKalb.)
Of the two Democrats vying for the nomination for the seat in the 70th Representative District Bob Pritchard is vacating, only Paul Stoddard of DeKalb has formed a committee, according to Illinois State Board of Elections records.
Howard Solomon, also of DeKalb, does not have one on file, nor is he necessarily required to. Only candidates or groups who spend more than $5,000 in a 12-month period on campaign and electioneering are required to file reports with the board.
"Over the past two years, I have seen a bombardment from the Democratic Party of fundraising requests. And despite the thousand or more requests that I have received, the Democratic Party lost the last presidential election," Solomon said in an email. "I am disappointed by the general trend of elections becoming competitions about ratings, polls, and fundraising. Now, since this is what I think, I feel like it would be inappropriate not to walk the walk."
The most recent numbers for campaigns are from the fourth quarter of 2017, ending Dec. 31; reports were due Jan. 16. In the fourth quarter, Stoddard raised about $1,300 and, at the end of the reporting period, has a total of $1,675 on hand to spend for the primary. He can still accept donations until then, and the committee doesn't disband even if he loses in the primary – or the General Election.
Stoddard said he doesn't plan on spending a lot of money in the primary, either.
"We plan on doing enough to let people know where we stand and make sure the name is out there," he said. Stoddard said he was going to focus on what he called "retail politics" – meeting with and listening to small groups of people.
Should he win the nomination, Stoddard said he would hope to keep money from outside the district out of the race.
Solomon intends on also following a grassroots path, saying his only expenses will be travel and business cards, and that he can fund that out of his own pocket.
"I do not want to break my primary opponent's bank, and do not expect him to try to break mine," Solomon said.
Stoddard's and Solomon's totals are dwarfed, however, by the lone Republican running to replace Pritchard, R-Hinckley, who is retiring when this term ends. Jeff Keicher (shown) of Sycamore has more than $25,500 on hand and raised $8,000 in the fourth quarter of 2017. Without an opponent for the primary, he doesn't have to spend any of it until after the March 20 election.
Keicher's fundraising matches larger trends in campaign fundraising, as well. Of the $8,200 raised at the end of 2017, $4.750 came from political action committees, all of which are headquartered outside the district, although $250 came from Congressman Randy Hultgren's campaign committee, some of whose congressional district overlaps the 70th district.
In response to Stoddard's proposal about outside money, Keicher said "Paul needs to do what Paul wants to do."
"I've received over 140 individual contributions," Keicher said, adding that many came from family and friends outside the district. "I'm moved by the contributions."