Elmhurst Lawmakers Draw Cash From Corporate Interests

ELMHURST, IL – You may forget about Elmhurst's state lawmakers between elections, but well-heeled interests don't.

Last quarter, state Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, a Western Springs Democrat, collected $130,000 for her campaign. This year, Hilton is expected to run against Linda Polacek, the only Republican in District 24's March 17 GOP primary.

In the 2022 election, Hilton raised $3.2 million in her successful race against Republican Dennis Reboletti, who pulled in $500,000.

Reboletti, a former state representative, enjoyed the financial backing of the state's Republican organization because Senate District 24 was a rare election battleground.

Most districts see no competition or challengers with little money. That may be the case this year in District 24. The GOP has given no signs that it plans to invest in Polacek's campaign.

Last month, Polacek, a Lombard-area park district board member, opened her campaign account, but has received no large donations yet.

In the last quarter, Hilton received contributions from Nicor, Allstate, Ameren, BNSF Railway, the state hospital association, the Realtors, gambling groups, Peoples Energy and Phillips 66, according to her campaign finance report. She also got money from unions.

Additionally, the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois provided $2,600 in in-kind services to the Hilton campaign's golf outing.

In the last quarter, District 45 state Rep. Marti Deuter, an Elmhurst Democrat, raised $30,000. Much of that money came from unions. At the same time, seven pharmaceutical companies and Big Pharma's political action committee donated, totaling nearly $5,000.

Deuter, a former Elmhurst alderwoman, also got money from the trial lawyers association, Peoples Energy and the Illinois State Medical Society, among others.

One notable item was a $1,000 donation from DiCianni Graphics, owned by Republican-turned-Democrat Pete DiCianni, a former Elmhurst mayor and DuPage County Board member.

Asked about the contribution, DiCianni said he made it because Deuter is his state representative and that she supports developmentally disabled people.

Deuter, who is seeking re-election, is likely to run against Gina Parrilli, the only candidate in the March 17 Republican primary. Parrilli is a Westmont village trustee.

In 2024, both parties invested when Deuter ran against Reboletti in 2024. The GOP has given no indications that it plans to pour money into Parrilli's campaign, which hasn't filed a finance report with the state elections board.

Hilton and Deuter couldn't be reached for immediate comment Monday.