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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Lawyer contributions to Smith exceed total contributions for other Madison County judicial candidates

Elections
Law money 04

Plaintiff lawyers and firms make up more than half of the campaign contributions for Democratic judicial candidate Sarah Smith in Madison County. 

Smith, an associate judge who is running for the vacancy created by Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder’s retirement later this year, received at least $39,000 from plaintiff lawyers and firms in the quarter ending Sept. 30. The funds from attorneys and law firms made up approximately 54 percent of Smith’s contributions, which totaled $72,750 for the quarter.

Of those contributions, at least $24,000 came from asbestos lawyers and firms. 

Smith’s campaign contributions are in sharp contrast to her Republican opponent, Edwardsville attorney Mark Rabe, who has received a total of $2,100 through Sept. 30. 

Rabe filed his quarterly report Oct. 14. His modest campaign reflects what he has said is his dedication to keeping costs down. 

Rabe received $1,150 in itemized individual contributions and $50 in non-itemized individual contributions.

He also received a $900 loan, for a total of $2,100 in contributions for the quarter.

Rabe’s campaign committee, Friends for Rabe ‘18, spent a total of $992.58. 

Since the reporting period ended, Rabe received two contributions of $1,000. Pamela Carter of Glen Carbon made a contribution on Oct. 2, and Patrick Finneran of Georgia made a contribution on Oct. 15.  

According to Smith’s quarterly report filed Oct. 13, she received $62,325 in itemized individual contributions and $5,350 from non-itemized individual contributions.

She received $3,450 form itemized transfers in and $1,375 from not-itemized transfers in. 

Smith’s campaign committee, Friends of Sarah Smith, spent a total of $38,962.72 during the quarter. 

Smith received $11,000 from the Belleville firm Keefe Keefe & Unsell on July 25. 

Smith received another $11,000 contribution from the Alton asbestos firm Simmons Hanly Conroy on July 25. 

She also received $1,000 contributions from Simmons attorneys John Simmons, Jayne Conroy, Paul Hanly, Michael Angelides, Jill Thompson, Trent Miracle and Brian Cooke. She received $2,500 from Simmons attorney John Barnerd. 

Smith received $3,500 from the St. Louis asbestos firm Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd. 

She received a $1,000 contribution from the St. Louis personal injury firm Brown & Crouppen PC on July 30. 

She also received a $1,500 contribution from Becker Schroader & Chapman PC in Granite City on July 17 and another $1,500 contribution from The Driscoll Firm PC in St. Louis on Oct. 5, which was reported after the third quarter ended. 

Collinsville attorney Marc Parker of Parker Law PC, who is running on the Democratic ticket for former Circuit Judge John Barberis’ seat, received a total of $23,450 for the quarter. 

According to Parker’s quarterly report filed Oct. 15, he received $15,825 in itemized individual contributions and $4,325 in non-itemized contributions. 

He also received $2,200 in itemized transfers-in and $1,100 in non-itemized transfers-in. 

Parker’s campaign committee, Friends for Marc Parker, spent a total of $33,182.20 during the quarter. 

Parker received four contributions during the most recent quarter. 

He received a $2,000 contribution from David and Kimberly Galanti of the Galanti Law Office in Bethalto. 

Parker received a $5,000 contribution from John Julian of Naples, Fla. on Aug. 27. 

Parker received a $1,000 contribution on Aug. 14 from Steve and Joan Giacoletto in Collinsville. The Giacoletto Law Firm in Collinsville is a personal injury firm. 

Parker also received a $1,000 contribution on Aug. 8 from the Committee to Elect Jay C. Hoffman. 

Current Circuit Judge David Dugan, who is running on the Republican ticket for the seat he currently occupies, received a total of $5,645 for the quarter. 

Dugan was appointed to Barberis’ seat after his election to the Fifth District Appellate Court. 

According to his quarterly report filed Oct. 15, Dugan received $1,725 in itemized individual contributions and $2,695 in non-itemized individual contributions. 

He also received $1,000 in itemized transfers-in and $225 in non-itemized transfers-in. 

Dugan’s campaign committee, the Committee to Elect David Dugan, spent a total of $13,421.37 for the quarter.

Dugan only received one contribution of $1,000 for the quarter. Volunteers of Shimkus contributed $1,000 on Aug. 31.

After the third quarter reporting period ended, Dugan's committee received $1,000 from MCRCC of Wood River on Oct. 11, and $2,176 from Tiger Plumbing in Collinsville on Oct. 5.  

Bond County State’s Attorney Chris Bauer, a Democrat, is running unopposed for the vacancy left by Bond County Circuit Judge John Knight’s retirement. 

He has not created a campaign committee. 

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