SPRINGFIELD – Supporters of Democrat Supreme Court candidate Judy Cates created a committee for Republican donors in May but found none as of Oct. 15.
The committee, Republicans for Judge Judy, reported five contributions in the third quarter but then declared errors on two.
In its sole expenditure, it refunded $1,000 to Belleville lawyer Lloyd Cueto, a Democrat.
Committee treasurer Barbara Mason of Springfield previously advised the Illinois State Board of Elections that by mistake it reported $1,000 from Franklin County Democratic Organization.
“It was contributed to the Judge Judy for Supreme Court and reported by that committee,” Mason wrote in a letter to the elections board.
Mason should know, because she holds the same position in Cates’s campaign, “Judge Judy for Supreme Court.”
Mason retired from the State Board of Elections and now works for committees in both parties, board spokesman Matt Dietrich said on Oct. 15.
She did not organize the Republican donor entity.
Barbara Constance of Belleville did that on May 15, signing articles of organization as treasurer of “Republicans for Cates for Supreme Court.”
She named Anne Koleson of O’Fallon as chair.
For party affiliation, Constance wrote Republican.
For purpose she wrote, “To support Justice Judy Cates for IL Supreme Court.”
For support or opposition, she checked support.
For office she wrote Supreme Court, and for party she wrote Democrat.
Mason took charge and amended the articles of organization on July 24.
She identified herself as co-treasurer with Constance.
She changed the name to “Republicans for Judge Judy,” featuring the candidate’s first name as Cates has done with her committee.
She left the line for party affiliation blank and likewise the boxes about purpose, support, opposition, office, and party.
On July 27, Metro East Gastroenterology of Belleville contributed $1,000 to Republicans for Judge Judy.
On Aug. 12, Constance reported $1,000 from Franklin County Democrats.
On Aug. 13, Mason reported it as an error.
On Sept. 2, Auto Spa Express car wash on North Illinois Street in Fairview Heights gave the committee $500.
On Sept. 3, Constance reported that Cueto contributed $1,000 on Sept. 2.
He got it back on Sept. 23.
Mason explained in her quarterly report, “Refund of funds reported in error.”
Republicans for Judge Judy received $5,000 on Oct. 14, but not from Republicans.
The source of that contribution, Tomasik Kotin and Kasserman of Chicago, gave $5,000 to Cates’s campaign in April.
In the past year the firm gave $30,000 to retention of Supreme Court Justice James Kilbride and $21,500 to House Speaker Mike Madigan’s committee.
The firm gave $37,900 to the state Democratic Party and its committees.
The firm gave $3,000 each to state Reps. Monica Bristow of Alton and Katie Stuart of Edwardsville.