While funding for Fifth District Appellate Court campaigns does not yet rival previous contested campaigns, contributions to Democratic candidates are beginning to pour in just as third quarter reports are due.
Third quarter reports covering contributions from July 1 through Sept. 30 are due at the State Board of Elections by Oct. 17.
Campaign finance records show that Williamson County Circuit Judge Brad Bleyer and Justice James “Randy” Moore both filed their quarterly reports on Monday.
Bleyer, running on the Democratic ticket for the vacancy being created through the retirement of Bruce Stewart, brought in $49,802.54 in individual contributions, transfers and loans.
Bleyer received $32,070.20 in itemized individual contributions and $3,468.25 in non-itemized contributions.
He also received $13,850 in itemized transfers and $360 in non-itemized transfers.
Bleyer also received $54.09 in non-itemized loans.
He has raised $89,182.41 this year, and raised $11,935 last year for a total of $101,117.41 so far in his campaign.
The Goldenberg, Heller & Antognoli firm is the only local firm to contribute to Bleyer’s campaign, which donated $1,060.
Bleyer’s total expenditures were $48,239.41.
Moore, who is running on the Republican ticket for the vacancy of James Wexstten, brought in $18,560 in individual contributions and transfers this quarter.
Moore was appointed to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Stephen Spomer.
He has raised $36,822 this year and $15,700 last year, for a total of $52,522 so far in his campaign.
All of Moore’s third quarter contributions came from individuals, trade groups or political action committees.
Moore raised $11,950 in itemized individual contributions and $4,560 in non-itemized individual contributions.
He also raised $2,000 in itemized transfers and $50 in non-itemized transfers.
Moore’s total expenditures were $7,993.12
Moore’s opponent, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Jo Beth Weber, a Democrat, has not filed her third quarter report yet, but she received a $1,000 contribution from Wexstten, the justice whose seat she seeks.
She also received a $3,000 contribution from former Madison County Chief Judge Ann Callis. Callis now works as a partner with Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli in Edwardsville after running for Congress in 2014 and losing to Republican Rep. Rodney Davis.
Weber also contributed $75,650 to her own campaign.
Weber raised $19,877 in her second quarter.
Madison County Circuit Judge John Barberis, who is running on the Republican ticket for Stewart’s seat, has not yet filed his quarterly report.
Barberis didn’t establish his fundraising committee until July 26 and has only raised $3,000 total for his campaign.
He received a $1,000 contribution from Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard attorney Thomas Long on Sept. 17, a $1,000 contribution from the Illinois State Medical Society Political Action Committee on Sept. 23 and a $1,000 contribution from Steve Carter, manager of the coal mining company Knight Hawk out of Longboat Key, Fl., on July 28.
Barberis self-funded his campaign for circuit judge in 2014 with approximately $5,000.
In previous contested appellate court races, campaign spending has been prolific.
In the 2012 race between Democrat Judy Cates and Republican Stephen McGlynn, spending exceeded $1 million. Cates won. McGlynn was later elected circuit judge in the 20th Judicial Circuit in 2014.
In the 2006 race between Democrat Stewart and McGlynn, spending exceeded $2.6 million.