The Democratic primary for governor is on pace to be the most expensive race ever in Illinois. NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern has the latest on the sparring between the top three candidates as they vie for the job.
The Democratic primary for governor is on pace to be the most expensive election in Illinois history, and the three top candidates are exchanging barbs as the big day draws near.
Candidate Chris Kennedy said this week that front-runner J.B. Pritzker is trying to buy the race after reports surfaced that the billionaire had injected $63 million of his own money into the race.
“He’s trying to buy everybody, black and white,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy says that Pritzker is spending $500,000 a day of his own money on the race, and revealed documents that detail how that money is being allocated.
Pritzker has donated $600,000 to Democratic committees throughout the state, and that number includes $159,000 in donations to Cook County committeemen.
A group of Chicago alderman who support Pritzker say that the money donated by the candidate is desperately needed to properly run elections.
“The way it works now is in order for committemen to operate, and just to open our doors on Election Day, it costs $10,000,” Alderman Walter Burnett said. “We all need help in order to run elections.”
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While Kennedy criticized Pritzker for his spending, candidate Daniel Biss attempted to distance himself from the other two candidates.
nOccupation: Businessman
nnEducation: Bachelor's degree, Duke University; Law degree, Northwestern University School of LawnnPublic offices held: None.nnProfessional experience: Entrepreneur who helped found Chicago tech incubator 1871. Early childhood education advocate, organizing President Barack Obama's 2014 Summit on Early Childhood Education. Former chairman, Illinois Human Rights Commission. Helped Holocaust survivors build the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.nnRunning mate: State Rep. Juliana Stratton, Chicago
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nAge: 54
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nOccupation: Founder of Top Box Foods, a non-profit that provides high-quality, affordable foods to needy Northern Illinois communities. Chairman of Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises, Inc.
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nEducation: Bachelor's degree, Boston College; master of business administration, Northwestern University Kellogg School of Business
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nPublic offices held: None.
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nProfessional experience: Former chairman, University of Illinois Board of Trustees; former president of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.; former chairman, Greater Chicago Food Depository; current board member, Ariel Mutual Funds; former Lund-Gill Chair at Dominican University. Taught honors course on effects of government and community policies on social justice organizations.
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nRunning mate: Ra Joy, Chicago
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nAge: 40
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nOccupation: State senator
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nEducation: Bachelor's degree, Harvard University; doctorate in mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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nPublic offices held: Illinois House of Representatives, 2011-2012. Elected to Illinois Senate in 2012.
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nProfessional experience: Former math teacher at North Lawndale High School and the University of Chicago. Member, Evanston Environment Board; former president, Democratic Party of Evanston; board member, Indo-American Democratic Organization; social action committee member, Temple Beth Israel.
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nRunning mate: State Rep. Litesa Wallace, Rockford
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nAge: 61
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nOccupation: Regional schools superintendent, township supervisor, farmer.
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nEducation: Bachelor's and master's degrees in education, Eastern Illinois University. Doctorate in education, Southern Illinois University_Edwardsville.
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nPublic offices held: Marine Township supervisor, 2001 to present; former Madison County Board member; former member of Marine village board; Appointed regional superintendent of schools in 2007 and elected in 2008, 2010 and 2014.
nProfessional experience: Career and technical teacher at Triad High School in Troy, 1979-2007; Member, Illinois Education Association, including four years as local president. With wife Karen, owns 250 acres of farmland in four locations in Madison and Macoupin counties. Personally farms 120 acres, corn and beans.
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nRunning mate: Jonathan Todd, Chicago
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nAge: 55
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nOccupation: President of Violence Interrupters, a not-for-profit anti-violence organization. Adjunct professor of criminal justice and restorative justice.
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nEducation: Bachelor's and master's degrees in inner city studies, Northeastern Illinois University.
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nPublic offices held: None.
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nProfessional experience: Former director of CeaseFire Illinois; violence prevention expert and adjunct professor; community leader.
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nRunning mate: Patricia Avery, Champaign
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nAge: 75
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nOccupation: Physician
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nEducation: Phillips Exeter Academy, Oberlin College, Harvard Medical School.
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nPublic offices held: Former trustee, Burr Ridge Village Board.
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nProfessional experience: Physician since 1969.
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nRunning mate: Dennis Cole, Westchester
“There’s the Madigan-Pritzker wing of the Democratic Party, and the progressive-independent wing, which I’m a part of,” he said.
While money has been a theme of the Republican primary, another issue took center stage Friday, as the mystery surrounding Governor Bruce Rauner’s former top attorney Dennis Murashko was back in the headlines.
Murashko, who left his position abruptly last summer, says that the Inspector General has informed him that a case brought against him was ruled unfounded. He says that the complaint was malicious, false, and defamatory, but the final report has not yet been made public.
The report, which contains a complaint that Murashko called malicious and defamatory, has yet to be made public
