Voters Need to Follow Jen Gong-Gershowitz's "Money Trail"

17th District Voters Need to Follow Jen Gong-Gershowitz’s “Money Trail”

During the contentious 17th District State Representative race several issues have been raised about candidate Jen Gong-Gershowitz’s controversial and negative advertising campaign.

In addition, the sources of her funding demands examination by voters. Questions have been raised by some voters about Jen Gong-Gershowitz’s independence and this “Money Trail” amplifies these concerns.

Campaign filings show that as of March 17th, the Gong-Gershowitz campaign has raised over $700,000, an astounding sum for a State Representative primary in the historically Democrat dominated 17th District. None of the other candidates have raised anywhere near this amount of money.

Interestingly, it appears that only a very small amount of total funds raised (3% or $23,000 from our calculations) is from individuals residing in the 17th District.

Almost $100,000 comes from Mike Madigan controlled organizations, namely the “Democratic Majority” and “Friends of Michael J Madigan.” This money has been used for printing and postage of misleading attack advertisements against one candidate, Candance Chow. None of the other candidates vying for the 17th district seat have received money from these Madigan controlled organizations.

Most concerning, however, is the $400,000 donated in the way of “transfers” from the campaign committees of current State Representatives. These include:

• “Citizens for Gregory Harris” (13th District) - $55,000
• “Citizens for Lou Lang” (16th District) - $54,000
• “Citizens for Moylan” (55th District) - $55,000
• “Friends of Robert Martwick” (19th District) - $55,000
• “Friends of Tabares” (21st District) - $35,000
• “Friends of Elect Kathleen Willis”(77th District) - $55,000
• “People for Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch” (7th District) - $55,400
• “Friends of Michelle Mussman” (56th District) - $35,000

It is worth noting that $359,400 or 90% of these donations, was received on a single day (March 13th), a week before the election. Why are these Representatives from other State House Districts funneling large amounts of money into the 17th District primary race? And why is Rep Martwick contributing $55,000 when he's been an early and staunch supporter of another candidate? This appears to be a coordinated effort orchestrated by the leaders of the state party to determine the representative for our district. I think it is a fair question to ask what will Jen Gong-Gershowitz owe these other Representatives and Michael J Madigan?

Political Action Committee donations (20 in total) were $93,000.

Individual contributions total about $145,000, but “Out of State” contributions comprised about $60,000 and “Out of District” Illinois contributions were $63,000. As noted above, by our calculations, only about $22,000 or 3% of total funds was received from 17th District residents, people whom Gong-Gershowitz would supposedly represent, if elected. The 17th District is a relatively affluent district.

Voters should be concerned that Gong-Gershowitz will be beholden to Mike Madigan and her State Representative colleagues and not voters in the 17th District. Voters should know how much money Gong-Gershowitz is spending on her campaign, and the sources of this funding.

Data from Illinois State Board of Elections website: (as of 3/17/2018)

https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeDetail.aspx?id=z0Grsora%2b3u1J6dSgKcjQQ%3d%3d

Illinois Sunshine has similar data:

https://illinoissunshine.org/committees/34008/