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Southern Illinois candidates report fundraising figures

By Kurt Erickson, the southern springfield bureau

Monday, July 21, 2008 10:33 PM CDT

SPRINGFIELD -With less than four months to go before voters head to the polls, races for Southern Illinois seats in the Illinois General Assembly are beginning to shape up.

On Monday, candidates for state offices reported fundraising figures for the first half of the year.

In the 107th House District, Republican John Cavaletto of Salem has a fundraising lead over Democrat Patti Hahn of Centralia for the post being vacated by retiring state Rep. Kurt Granberg, D-Carlyle.

Cavaletto, who unsuccessfully challenged Granberg during the last election, had $37,555 in his campaign warchest, compared to Hahn's $11,400.

Cavaletto raised $35,000 and spent $18,000 during the first six months of the year. Top contributors to Cavaletto include $3,500 from Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, and $5,000 from the Illinois Manufacturers Association.

Hahn, the Marion County treasurer, raised $29,831 and spent more than $30,000, leaving her with $11,400 at the end of the reporting period.

Hahn received a $5,000 contribution from state Rep. Jay Hoffman, a Collinsville Democrat who is a key ally of Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The Laborer's union also chipped in with $5,000.

Hahn spent much of her money on printing and advertising .costs.

In the 59th Senate District, state Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, is being challenged by Republican Ken Burzynski of Benton.

Burzynski raised $28,000 in the first half of the year, while spending $11,400, leaving him with about $17,000 in his coffers.

Burzynski, a businessman, collected $4,500 from his brother, state Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Sycamore. He also received $10,000 from Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson and $5,000 from state Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa.

Forby was first elected to the General Assembly in 2000. His reports were not immediately available Monday evening.

In the 115th House District, incumbent state Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, is facing two challengers Democrat Cheryl Graff of Murphysboro and Green Party candidate Charlie Howe of Carbondale.

Records show Bost, a member of the House since 1994, raised $42,790, while spending $43,208, leaving him with $24,088 on hand.

Graff's reports were not available Monday.

Howe started the year with $500 in his account but reported raising no money in the first half of the year. He did spend more than $400, leaving him with $91.

In the 117th House District, state Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, is facing off against Republican Ron Emery of Murphysboro. Emery has not reported raising or spending any money in his campaign.

Bradley, who has served in the House since 2003, reported raising $35,113, giving him a total of $78,952 at the end of June.

In the 118th House District, state Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, is being challenged by Republican Scott Doody of Anna.

Doody has not reported the raising or spending of any money in his campaign and Phelps reports were not immediately available Monday evening.

In the 108th House District, Democrat Jason Warfel of Ingraham is challenging incumbent state Rep. David Reis, R-Willow Hill.

Warfel, who formerly worked for House Speaker Michael Madigan and Gov. Rod Blagojevich, reported raising $12,921 in the first six months of 2008.

His biggest contributor was the Plumbers and Pipefiiters Union Local 149, which gave his campaign $5,000. Warfel also loaned his campaign $6,500.

Warfel spent $10,300, leaving him with $3,727 in the bank.

Reis, a member of the House since 2005, reported having $22,407 in the bank. He raised about $20,000 and spent $16,400.

Reis' biggest contributor was the Illinois State Medical Society, which gave him $1,000. He also received a number of small contributions from businesses in his district.

In the 54th Senate District, Democrat Henry Kijonka of Grayville is challenging incumbent state Sen. John Jones, R-Mount Vernon.

Kijonka, the mayor of Grayville, has raised $18,350, which includes $15,000 he's loaned himself.

Kijonka spent more than $7,000 in the first half of the year, mostly on newspaper advertisements and signs.

Kijonka reported having $8,566 in the bank on July 1.

Jones, a member of the General Assembly since 1995, raised $41,092 in the six month period ending June 30.

Jones received a number of contributions from oil and gas companies which operate wells in his southeastern Illinois district. His biggest contributor was the Illinois State Medical Society, which gave him $2,500 in April.

Jones has $180,678 on hand at the close of the reporting period after spending $35,337.

kurt.erickson@lee.net / (217) 789-0865