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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Judge Weber raises nearly $500K in Fifth District Appellate Court campaign; More than $100K raised day before election by Fair Courts Now contributors

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Democratic Fifth District Appellate Court candidate Jo Beth Weber received more than $100,000 in campaign contributions just one day before Election Day.

Most of the contributions came from asbestos firms and plaintiff’s firms that also contributed to Fair Courts Now, an attack ad campaign established to oppose Republican Fifth District Appellate Court candidates John Barberis and James “Randy” Moore.

On Monday, Weber received $5,400 from plaintiff’s firm Keefe, Keefe & Unsell, $31,600 from the Gori Julian asbestos firm and $64,800 from the Simmons asbestos firm, all of which also contributed to Fair Courts Now.

Weber received a total of $271,619.05 from Oct. 1-Nov. 8, bringing her to a total of $494,501.05 raised in her campaign.

Numerous requests for comment from Weber’s campaign over a two-week period went unanswered.

Williamson County Circuit Judge Brad Bleyer, Democrat, has received a total of $14,520.69 from Oct. 1-Nov. 8, bringing him to a total of $115,638.10 raised in his campaign.

While Bleyer is a Democratic candidate, none of his campaign contributions came from firms, attorneys or individuals who donated to Fair Courts Now.

He previously told the Record that he was not involved in the Fair Courts Now committee.

“Judicial elections are very important. The selection of judges should be based only on the qualifications and experience of the candidates. I was not in any way involved in the advertising campaign of Fair Courts Now. I did not solicit or request any outside advertising. I have worked very hard to present my campaign to the voters of the Fifth District in a positive manner based only on my experience, qualifications, and reputation earned over 33 years in the legal community,” Bleyer stated in an email.

Bleyer’s contributions in the past month include:

- Keefe & Depauli PC of Fairview Heights: $1,000

- Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP of Chicago: $1,500

- ULLICO Management Company of Silver Springs, Mo.: $1,000

- Southern Illinois Central Labor Council of West Frankfort, Ill.: $1,000

- Steamfitters Local 439 PAC of Caseyvill, Ill.: $1,200

- Brad Bleyer: $8,820.69

Madison County Circuit Judge Barberis received a total of $6,068.04 from Oct. 1-Nov. 8, bringing him to a total of $17,873.04 raised in his campaign.

Barberis’ contributions include:

- Citizens for Schimpf of Waterloo, Ill.: $2,500

- Citizens for Charlie Meier of Okawville, Ill.: $1,000

- Sandberg Phoenix attorney Thomas Long of Godfrey: $1,500

- Volunteers for Shimkus of Collinsville: $1,068.04

Justice Moore received $69,068.04 from Oct. 1-Nov. 8, bringing him to a total of $121,590.04 raised in his campaign.

Some of Moore’s largest contributions include:

- Friends of Chuck Weaver of Peoria, Ill.: $5,000

- Citizens for Dale A. Righter Illinois State Senate of Charleston, Ill.: $5,000

- Citizens for Luechtefeld of Okawville, Ill.: $5,000

- James R. Moore: $30,000

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