Candidate Sues Republican Primary Opponent Over Madigan Mailers

LINCOLNSHIRE, IL — Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan isn't just a factor in Democratic primaries, he's also coming into play on the Republican side. Upset at being linked to the leader of the state Democratic Party in his opponent's recent campaign literature, one of two Lincolnshire Republicans seeking to replace outgoing state Rep. Carol Sente in the north suburban 59th District filed a lawsuit in Lake County Court demanding a retraction and apology.

The ads in question were sent by the House Republican Organization on behalf of the campaign of Karen Feldman, a realtor and Lincolnshire trustee.

The mailers accuse her opponent, Marko Sukovic, a graduating senior at the University of Illinois with own political consulting firm, of taking "tens of thousands of dollars in cold hard cash from Mike Madigan's closest allies."

However, a look at Sukovic's campaign filings with Illinois State Board of Elections reveals that he's reported raising less than $10,000 – much of it from family members.

Nonetheless, according to the crudely photoshopped mailers, "Mike Madigan and his henchman are pulling Marko Sukovic's strings."

Feldman has reported more than $42,000 in contributions from the House Republican Organization since Jan. 1, and Sukovic said it appears more than $12,000 was spent on the "defamatory" mailers.

Sukovic said he "felt he has no choice" but to file a lawsuit against Feldman and the state GOP political committee.

“The content of these mailers is absolutely ridiculous, and to see that her campaign spent over $12,000 on them is concerning,” Sukovic said.

“If her campaign is willing to waste that kind of money on these mailers, imagine the kind of money she’d be willing to waste in Springfield.”

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Lake County Circuit court by Sukovic's father, a Northfield-based attorney.

Feldman said the suit has no merit, as far as it pertains to her, and plans to file a motion to dismiss her from the case, which she called "an attempt to distract" the voters of the district.

"Marko and his dad have filed a vexatious and frivolous lawsuit without making a good faith inquiry into either the law or facts," she told Patch. "They both know I had nothing to do with the political mailings sent out by the House Republican Organization."

Feldman said she would have further comment following an initial court hearing set for Friday.

The chairman of the House Republican Organization has not responded to a request for comment, but the group's political director told the Daily Herald that Sukovic was "upset" that the group had endorsed his opponent.

A press release challenging Feldman to produce evidence of the claims was released Monday by a group of local Republican leaders, including former Lake County Republican Chairman Mike Amrozowicz, Warren Township Chairman Peter Karlovics, Fremont Township Chairman Glenn Garamoni, Moraine Township Chairman Martin Zeidman, Shields Township Chairman Scott Helton, Grant Township Chairwoman Nancy Kubalanza, Wauconda Township Chairman Bob Cook, and Alternative 10th Congressional District State Central Committeewoman Bonnie Quirke.

“In all of my years in politics, I have never seen someone spread such a bald face lie with such a straight face,” Amrozowicz said.

“It shows a complete lack of integrity that makes her unsuitable for public office," he said in the release. "Spreading random accusations is no substitute for facts – either prove up this accusation, or apologize.”

The supporters of the 22-year-old Sukovic suggested the tactics from Feldman's backers would turn young people away from the Republican Party.

“I find it particularly disgraceful that Ms. Feldman would so recklessly slander our next generation of political leaders,” said Quirke. “How can we get our young people to take an interest in our government, when candidates run a campaign of lies against a young candidate?”

Karlovics said the "buck stops" with Feldman, who should have at least put out a statement acknowledging the ads are false.

“Instead of trying to make this right, Ms. Feldman has offered nothing but excuses for this attack,” he said.

The 59th District includes parts of Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, Mettawa, Mundelein, Park City, Riverwoods, Vernon Hills, Waukegan and Wheeling.

» Read more: Candidates Declare Runs For Open 59th District State Rep Seat