Aldermen differ on 5th District house race

01/28/2010 2:27 PM

By Micah Maidenberg
Editor

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Near Loop alderman are taking different sides on the race for the 5th District state house seat, where Rep. Ken Dunkin is facing two challengers in the Feb. 2 Democratic Party primary.
Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd), writing in her capacity as Democratic Party committeewoman of her ward, endorsed Gwendolyn Drake in an e-blast sent yesterday afternoon.
Dowell and Dunkin previously faced off over the 3rd Ward committeeman's seat in a bitterly contested election two years ago.
Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) is also backing a challenger to the incumbent - attorney David Schroeder.
Martin Ritter, a political aide to Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd), declined to comment.
Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) is backing Dunkin - both he and Dunkin are part of Secretary of State Jesse White's organization. White is the Democratic Party committeeman in the 27th Ward.

As the race for this seat comes down to the wire, candidates are pulling in last minute donations. Any contribution that's $500 or more must be reported to Illinois State Board of Elections within two business days.
Dunkin is getting some financial help from House Speaker Michael Madigan.
On Jan. 26, Dunkin reported the following donations, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections:

THE DENTAL PAC OF ILLINOIS
$500.00

SIMMONS ATTORNEYS AT LAW
$1,000.00

SEIU HEALTHECARE IL IN PAC
$1,000.00

RISK MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS OF AMERICA INC
$700.00

HAYES, ZAKRYSCHA
$500.00

CITIZENS TO ELECT JAY HOFFMAN
$2,000.00

The Alliance PAC
$750.00

Metrpolitan Chicago Healthcare Council
$250.00

ILL OPTOMETRIC ASSOC PAC
$250.00

Humana
$2,000.00

At&T Illinois Employee PAC
$3,000.00

SEIU HEALTHECARE IL IN PAC
$1,156.09

Friends of Michael Madigan
$1,224.43

Friends of Michael Madigan
$934.81

Friends of Michael Madigan
$934.81

These three contributions for Schroeder were reported to the state board of elections on Jan. 21:

Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
$2,900.00

Illinois Fairness Fund
$5,000.00

Riordan, Robert
$5,000.00





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By Melissa from Downtown
Posted: 02/01/2010 7:26 AM

Huh - David Schroeder seems to be doing very well. Look at all the special interest money for Dunkin! No wonder he consistently votes against us.