Evanston Mayor's Race: Steve Hagerty Raised More Money Than All Other Candidates Combined

EVANSTON, IL — Steve Hagerty was the top vote-getter in Evanston's mayoral primary Tuesday, earning nearly twice as many votes as his nearest rival and opponent in the April general election, Mark Tendam.

Hagerty's victory was aided by a significant financial advantage over his opponents. Records from the Illinois Board of Elections show he's raised $146, 719.68 in loans and contributions.

That's more than all other candidates combined, according to Evanston Now.

A comparison of Hagerty's fundraising with the four other candidates found Hagerty spent about three times as much per vote as Tendam. Hagerty raised more than $34 per vote, compared to just over $10 per vote for Tendam, Evanston Now reported.

Hagerty, the founder of an emergency management consulting company that has grown to employ more than 100 people, had more personal wealth to devote to his campaign than other candidates but also still out-raised them all among Evanston residents, according to records from the elections board.

Hagerty was endorsed by current Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl, former Mayor Lorraine Morton and three current alderman, while Tendam picked up the endorsement of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Metropolitan Water District Commissioner Debra Shore.

The money spent on this year's election is expected to dwarf campaign expenditures from 2009, when Tisdahl spent more than half of the $118,000 total. Candidates' financial reports this year indicated they have already raised nearly twice the amount of that total spend, according to Evanston Now.

Hagerty and Tendam will go head to head in the April 4 consolidated general election.

» Read more from Evanston Now

Top photo: From left, Mark Tendam, Steve Hagerty (Patch file)