Village Trustee campaign finances

The Arlington Heights Village trustee election was on April 7, 2015. The candidates, in order of votes received, were John Scaletta, Michael Sidor, Carol Blackwood, Robin La Bedz, D. Court Harris and Thomas F. Schwingbeck Jr. 

 All candidates but Mr. Schwingbeck opened a campaign committee by filing a D-1 statement of organization. A campaign committee allows voters to see who is contributing to their candidates and how the contributions to that candidate are being spent during an election.

On July 29, 2013, the Illinois Legislature raised the campaign reporting level per candidate for expenses and contributions from $3,000 to $5,000. According to Mr. Andy Nauman of the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE), the Illinois Legislature decided that $3,000 had been in place for many years and needed to be inflation-adjusted to $5,000.

The Legislature's reason to raise the campaign reporting limit is sensible. But an unintended consequence is that a higher reporting level of $5,000 may reduce the financial transparency of local candidates.

It is always beneficial for voters to know who is financially supporting their candidates and that all campaign rules are being followed. For example according to Ms. Sue Klaus of the ISBE, in 2008 Trustee Scaletta was fined three times for $600 for late filing of pre-election and semi-annual reports to Friends for John Scaletta.

Let's look at the candidates that did open a campaign committee for the April 2015 election. Any of these campaign committees can be accessed on the ISBE website by going to the committee search tab and then entering the name of their committee below:

Mr. John Scaletta, Committee Name: Friends for John Scaletta

According to his latest D-2 quarterly report, Mr. Scaletta total expenditure for this election was $3,222. Mr. Scaletta received 4,030 votes or $0.80 per vote. Mr. Scaletta received total Individual Contributions of $4,728, Itemized Contributions of $2,099 and non-itemized contributions of $2,629.

Total Individual Contributions are from folks that gave to a candidate's campaign. Total Individual Contributions consist of Itemized and Non-itemized contributions. If someone contributes $150 or more the contribution must be reported and is itemized, any amount per individual below $150 does not have to be itemized.

Mr. Scaletta received $250 from F and F Management, Inc. of Buffalo Grove, IL and $250 from Trustee Thomas Glasgow.

Mr. Mike Sidor, Committee Name: Citizens for Mike Sidor

According to his latest D-2 quarterly report, Mr. Sidor's total expenditures for this election were $5,346. Mr. Sidor received 3,985 votes, or $1.34 per vote. Mr. Sidor received total Individual Contributions of $4,100, Itemized Contributions of $2,800 and non-itemized contributions of $1,300.

Mr. Sidor also loaned his own campaign $5,000. He received $250 from Mr. Dan Kowtowski for State Senate and $250 from the Wheeling Township Democrats

Ms. Carol J. Blackwood Committee Name: Friends of Carol J. Blackwood

According to her latest D-2 quarterly report, Ms. Blackwood's total expenditures for this election were $1,753. Ms. Blackwood received 3,934 votes, or $0.45 per vote. Ms. Blackwood received total Individual Contributions of $5,224, Itemized Contributions of $2,199 and non-itemized contributions of $3,025.

Carol and John Blackwood loaned her own campaign $1,500. She received $250 from Storino, Ramello and Durkin, Rosemont, Il. This is the same group that contributed to Mrs. Mulder's campaign throughout her long, long tenure as Village President. Ms. Blackwood also received $250 from Trustee Tinaglia Architects Inc.

Ms. Robin La Bedz, Committee Name: Friends for Robin LaBedz

According to her latest D-2 quarterly report, Ms. LaBedz's total expenditure for this election was $3,738. Ms. LaBedz received 3,886 votes or $0.96 per vote. She received total Individual Contributions of $4,459, Itemized contributions of $1,380, non-itemized contributions of $2,579 and in-kind contribution of $500.

Ms. LaBedz also loaned her own campaign $1,000 as an A-1 loan, i.e. loans of $1,000 or more that may or may not be paid back. Ms. LaBedz received a $500 in-kind contribution from the Arlington International Racecourse and $250 from Village Trustee, Thomas Glasgow.

Mr. D. Court Harris, committee name: Friends for Court Harris

According to his latest D-2 quarterly report, Mr. Harris' total expenditures for this election were $2,874. Mr. Harris received 2,854 votes, or $1.01 per vote. Mr. Harris received total Individual Contributions of $5,544, Itemized contributions of $3,150 and non-itemized contributions of $2,394.

Mr. Harris loaned his own campaign $750, and he received $250 from David Sweeney for State Representative