WASHINGTON – Lawyers contributed most of the money that St. Clair County state’s attorney Brendan Kelly raised to start his campaign for Congress.
His first Federal Election Commission report showed that 150 lawyers contributed $192,160 to a campaign that raised $356,671.93 overall as of Sept. 30..
In a total of $270,114.66 that Kelly raised from individuals in amounts big enough to itemize, lawyers accounted for 71 percent.
He might have received further contributions from lawyers among $40,516.75 in amounts too small to itemize.
Thirteen judges, current and retired, contributed $8,450 to the campaign.
In St. Clair County, 100 lawyers contributed $136,710.
Thomas Keefe Jr., Rita Keefe, Thomas Keefe III, and Samantha Unsell of the Keefe firm together contributed $21,600.
Each hit the limit of $2,700 for the primary and $2,700 for the general election.
John Bartholomew of Bruce N. Cook’s firm contributed $5,400, colleague Bernard Ysursa contributed $2,700, and Cook contributed $2,500.
Kevin Hoerner, Garrett Hoerner, Thomas Ysursa, and Rodney Thompson, all of Becker Hoerner, each contributed $2,700.
Becker Hoerner regularly represents the county by appointment of Kelly.
Michael Weilmuenster, wife Tricia Weilmuenster, and partner Frederick Keck each contributed $2,700.
David Jerome of Brown and Brown contributed $2,000 for the primary and $2,000 for the general, and the firm did the same.
Charles Swartout and David Schneidewind of Boyle Brasher each contributed $1,350, and the firm contributed $2,700.
Troy Walton contributed $1,957.50, Stephen Tolken contributed $742.50, and their firm contributed $2,700.
Brad Badgley, Christopher Cueto, John Driscoll, Rhonda Fiss, John Kujawski, Thomas Rich, Jon Rosenstengel, and Russell Scott each contributed $2,700.
So did partners Ryan Mahoney and David Cates.
In Madison County, 18 lawyers contributed $22,350.
Randy Gori and Beth Gori each contributed $2,700, and Christopher Layloff of Gori Julian contributed $2,700 for the primary and $2,700 for the general.
Former U.S. attorney Stephen Wigginton of Troy contributed $2,700.
In St. Louis, city and county, 22 lawyers contributed $28,550.
Nine lawyers from the asbestos firm of Maune Raichle, an offshoot from John Simmons’s firm in Madison County, contributed $19,050.
The mass action firm of Schlichter, Bogard and Denton contributed $1,500, and Jerome Schlichter contributed $975.
Six Chicago lawyers together contributed $3,250.
Two Springfield lawyers contributed $300 and $250, one in Jackson County contributed $500, and one in Randolph County contributed $250.
Judges restrained themselves to small amounts except Fifth District appellate court judge Judy Cates, who contributed $2,700.
Retiring Justice Richard Goldenhersh contributed $1,000, and retired Justice Philip Rarick contributed $500.
Retired St. Clair County circuit judge Lloyd Cueto contributed $1,000, and retired circuit judges Patrick Young and Milton Wharton each contributed $500.
Associate judges Thomas Cannady and Janet Hormberg each contributed $500.
Associate judges William Clay and Richard Aguirre each contributed $250.
In Madison County, circuit judge William Mudge and associate judge Jennifer Hightower each contributed $250.
Retired Clinton County associate judge Dennis Middendorf contributed $250.
Kelly also received $44,800 from political action committees.
Costello for Congress contributed $2,000.
Committees of St. Clair County coroner Calvin Dye, county clerk Tom Holbrook, and Madison County state’s attorney Tom Gibbons each contributed $1,000.
So did committees of State Reps. Jay Hoffman and LaToya Greenwood.
Other than two lawyers, Kelly’s report showed a single contribution from the rural
expanse of the district.
George Timberlake of Mount Carmel, retired, contributed $500.
Thirteen judges, current and retired, contributed another $8,450.
Of all identifiable individual contributions, lawyers accounted for more than 90 percent of the total.
Democratic Party conduit Actblue contributed $55,905.66 as itemized individual contributions.
Kelly received $44,800 from political action committees and $40,516.75 in amounts too small to itemize. The candidate contributed $1,240.52.
St. Clair County lawyers contributed $140,310.
Thomas Keefe Jr., Rita Keefe, Thomas Keefe III, and Samantha Unsell of the Keefe firm together contributed $21,600.
Each hit the limit of $2,700 for the primary and $2,700 for the general election.
John Bartholomew of Bruce N. Cook’s firm contributed $5,400, colleague Bernard Ysursa contributed $2,700, and Cook contributed $2,500.
Kevin Hoerner, Garrett Hoerner, Thomas Ysursa, and Rodney Thompson, all of Becker Hoerner, each contributed $2,700.
Becker Hoerner regularly represents the county by appointment of Kelly.
Michael Weilmuenster, wife Tricia Weilmuenster, and partner Frederick Keck each contributed $2,700.
David Jerome of Brown and Brown contributed $2,000 for the primary and $2,000 for the general, and the firm did the same.
Charles Swartout and David Schneidewind of Boyle Brasher each contributed $1,350, and the firm contributed $2,700.
Troy Walton contributed $1,957.50, Stephen Tolken contributed $742.50, and their firm contributed $2,700.
Brad Badgley, Christopher Cueto, John Driscoll, Rhonda Fiss, John Kujawski, Thomas Rich, Jon Rosenstengel, and Russell Scott each contributed $2,700.
So did partners Ryan Mahoney and David Cates.
Madison County lawyers contributed $22,350.
Randy Gori and Beth Gori each contributed $2,700, and Christopher Layloff of Gori Julian contributed $2,700 for the primary and $2,700 for the general.
Former U.S. attorney Stephen Wigginton of Troy contributed $2,700.
Lawyers from firms in St. Louis, city and county, contributed $28,550.
Nine lawyers from the asbestos firm of Maune Raichle, an offshoot from John Simmons’s firm in Madison County, contributed $19,050.
The mass action firm of Schlichter, Bogard and Denton contributed $1,500, and Jerome Schlichter contributed $975.
Six Chicago lawyers contributed a total of $3,250 together.
Two Springfield lawyers contributed $300 and $250, one in Jackson County contributed $500, and one in Randolph County contributed $250.
Judges restrained themselves to small amounts except Fifth District appellate court judge Judy Cates, who contributed $2,700.
Retiring Justice Richard Goldenhersh contributed $1,000, and retired Justice Philip Rarick contributed $500.
Retired circuit judge Lloyd Cueto contributed $1,000, and retired circuit judges Patrick Young and Milton Wharton each contributed $500.
Associate judges Thomas Cannady and Janet Hormberg each contributed $500.
Associate judges William Clay and Richard Aguirre each contributed $250.
In Madison County, circuit judge William Mudge and associate judge Jennifer Hightower each contributed $250.
Retired Clinton County associate judge Dennis Middendorf contributed $250.
The trickle of contributions from sources other than lawyers flowed mostly from holders of political offices.
St. Clair County board chairman Mark Kern contributed $2,700.
Contributions from political action committees include $2,000 from Costello for Congress, $1,000 each from State Rep. Jay Hoffman and Madison County state’s attorney Tom Gibbons, State Rep. Latoya Greenwood, associate judge Chris Kolker, St. Clair County coroner Calvin Dye, Sr. and clerk Tom Holbrook, and $300 from St. Clair County sheriff Rick Watson.
Other than two nearby lawyers, the report showed a single contribution from the rural expanse of Kelly’s district east and south of Belleville.
George Timberlake of Mount Carmel, retired, contributed $500.
Bost campaign cash
Republican incumbent Mike Bost, first elected in 2014, has raised a total of $713,161 this calendar year – more than half of which ($395,807) came from political action committees.
Of his $317,261 in individual contributions, a total of $284,075 was derived from 224 itemized donations. Non-itemized contributions totaled $33,186.64.
Only nine lawyers contributed to Bost’s campaign for a total of $17,300.
Five of the lawyers were from Kirkland Ellis in Chicago – Ryan Harris, Stephen Ritchie, Sandford Perl, James Sprayregen and Richard Porter who contributed a total of $5,500.
Morris Harvey contributed $2,700 and Ben Mitchell contributed $1,000. Both are from Mt. Vernon.
Tom Long of Sandberg Phoenix in Alton contributed $2,700.
Mark Scoggins of Crowder and Scoggins in Columbia contributed $5,400.
More than 100 others – farmers, restaurateurs, accountants, engineers, bankers, doctors, auto dealers, executives, small business owners, homemakers, a pilot, as well as a self-described inventor and entrepreneur, contributed $255,975.
Bost also received $5,400 from Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and $5,400 from Chicago businessman billionaire Ken Griffin.