The “One Barrington Hills” (One BH) and “Save Open Space” (SOS) campaign committees filed their first quarter financial reports with the Illinois State Board of Elections on Wednesday, April 15th.
According to those filings, One BH reported total campaign contributions of $19,502.88 for the quarter compared to the SOS campaign’s receipts of $60,825.99. For the same period, One BH spent $16,267.26 for their campaign versus the $50,901.35 spent by SOS, but the respective categories of expenditures by each campaign differed dramatically according to details contained in their reports.
One BH candidates spent a little over half of their funds on direct mailings to residents. On the other hand, SOS candidates spent about forty percent of their donations to pay two campaign committee members for consulting fees.
SOS committee member Dan Lundmark was paid $12,500 for his consulting services, and Steve Knoop’s firm, First Chicago Advisors, Inc., was also paid $12,500 for consulting in the campaign. It’s unclear from the reporting what the hourly consulting fees were for these committee members, but it is worth noting they were both compensated at an equal level.
In addition to consulting fees, the SOS committee spent $7,642.50 of their quarterly donations for legal services provided to their campaign from the Law Office of John Fogarty, Jr., a firm specializing in political and election laws. Those fees equate to about 12.6% of SOS’s total financial intake for the quarter.
While first quarter campaign financial reports do provide a preliminary glimpse at campaign spending, we must remind readers they are by no means the final story regarding the overall campaign spending for the 2015 Barrington Hills Trustee election. Those figures will likely be revealed in three months when the second quarter financials are reported to the Board of Elections.
In the meantime, a copy of the One Barrington Hills campaign committee’s 2015 Q-1 report filing can be downloaded here, and a copy of the Save Open Space committee’s Q-1 report can be downloaded here.
– The Observer
In 2011 election, Save 5 Acres Committee (for Candidates Joe Messer, Patty Meroni and Karen Selman) spent $9,900 on a professional campaign consultant (Casey Justice).
In 2013 election, professional campaign consultant (Goodman Political, LLC) was paid a total of $17,000 by Candidate Committees as follows:
Abboud – $5,000, Mazeski – $3,600, Harrington – $4.000, Gohl – $4,400
In 2015 election, SOS paid $12,500 for “consulting” to non-professional campaign consultants, former Trustee and current Legal Committee Member Steve Knoop, and $12,500 to former Equestrian Commission Chairman Dan Lundmark, for a total of $25,000.
Lundmark was named as one of the respondents in the 2011 complaint filed with the State Board of Elections, State of Illinois. In the hearing, Knoop was referred to as “the bag man”.
“A complaint was filed with the State Board of Elections, State of Illinois, by George L. Schueppert, alleging Save 5 Acres of Barrington Hills, Jason Elder, Dan Lundmark, E. Margaret Eich, Karen Rosene, John Rosene, Patty Meroni, Karen N. Selman, Joseph Messer, Benjamin B. Le Compte III “individually or in concert, violated the following sections of the Campaign Disclosure Act: 9-25, in that contributions were made in the name of another, 9-26 filing of false campaign disclosure reports, and 9-8.5 received contributions in excess of the amount permitted by law.”
The initial hearing was held on March 18, 2011, and on June 15, 2011 The Election Board found, in its written opinion that “The respondents violated Section 5/9-8.5 and 5/9-25 of the Election Code”. The Board did not qualify the severity of the violations, either orally or in written form.”
Dan Lundmark is also the author of the following self-explanatory email dated Tuesday, March 1, 2011 to Mr. LeCompte:
“Hi,
Here is the exact language Bob (Abboud) used as to what needs to be in your affidavit.
-you understand that the village views your property as primarily residential.
-you are subject to the home occupation ordinance.
-you have modified your practices to be compliant with the home occupation ordinance.
-your buildings are in compliance with the village building code.
Hopefully, this will work.
Dan”
The “Schuman Letter” was issued two weeks following Lundmark’s email, “legalizing” LeCompte’s commercial boarding operation.
Were these really consulting services or done by Lundmark and Knoop for self-preservation? Stay tuned, the lawsuit continues.
After analysis of SOS campaign expenditures of donor money, we, the taxpayers of VBH, should take great comfort in the fact that we made the right decision on April 7th forever barring Meroni and Selman from directly participating in decision making on how future hard earned VBH taxpayer funds will be spent. Unfortunately, this will not erase past decisions.
My recollection of the SOS D1 filings is none of the SOS candidates contributed a dime to their own campaign. . . . Smart on their part, but what does this say about those individuals who chose to donate to SOS cause?
Lessons I have learned from SOS election filings are that not only is one born every minute . . . . . but money can’t buy you love or an election . . . well, at least in VBH.
No surprise here. The only ones shocked are them. Lundmark And Knoop on the payroll is pretty funny. Hope Knoop runs against Marty McLaughlin in 2 years. What fun!!
SOS donors should ask for a refund!
The “consulting” fees were predictable;reminds me of Jesse Jackson, Jr. without the fur coat and Rolex. SOS and their mentor have always been comfortable spending other people’s money; i.e. VBH