EDWARDSVILLE – State Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville), who championed the controversial subcircuit law that dramatically changed the way judges are elected in Madison County, has contributed $15,000 to the Madison County Democrat Central Committee (MCDCC) this election cycle.
In recent weeks the MCDCC has gone on the attack against Republican circuit court judge candidates in a series of negative mail pieces against Circuit Judge Amy Sholar and attorney Tim Berkley, and in web and social media messaging against all three. A negative digital ad against Circuit Judge Chris Threlkeld is particularly brutal, opening with "Neo Nazi."
As a political campaign finance committee, the MCDCC is not subject to rules that prohibit judicial candidates and their campaigns from unfairly attacking opponents.
Governor JB Pritzker, who signed the Judicial Circuits Districting Act of 2022 on Jan. 7, has provided $55,000 to the MCDCC - $25,000 which was reported today, Oct. 31.
Democrat judicial candidate Barry Julian, whose affluent neighborhood was drawn into the working class subcircuit where just one-third of the county's voters will decide three judge races, gave the MCDCC $12,000 on Oct. 20. His wife Gayvonna also gave the central committee $12,000 on that date.
Other notable contributors to the MCDCC this election cycle include the Gori firm in Edwardsville, where Julian practiced as an asbestos partner with Randy Gori. The firm, identified by the committee as the firm's former name - Gori Julian - contributed $24,000 on Oct. 7.
Julian’s own campaign committee transferred $400 to the central committee.
From Sept. 12 to Oct. 27, the MCDCC received $210,850 from individuals and campaign committees.
In the same span two years ago the central committee received $38,298.
John Simmons’s firm in Alton - Simmons Hanly Conroy - contributed $24,850; he individually contributed $2,350.
Sixteen lawyers and two managers in his firm contributed $1,500 each, and Perry Browder did so twice.
Two of Simmons' lawyers contributed from Missouri and one each from Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey.
Two contributions arrived from Washington, D.C., $23,850 from an insurance entity of organized labor and $10,000 from a Prairie PAC group.
State law prohibits donors in other states from contributing to judicial campaigns, but not from contributing to party committees.
Current state records don’t show MCDCC spending on its media attack against the GOP candidates because party committees only have to report those expenditures on a quarterly basis.
Party committees differ from independent expenditure committees, which are required to report big expenditures immediately. Independent committees also operate under a ban on cooperation with a candidate committee.
That separation allows independent committees to attack candidates without regard for Supreme Court Rule 4.1.
The rule starts with maintaining appropriate dignity and acting in a manner consistent with independence, integrity and impartiality.
Among other things, it states that a candidate shall not knowingly misrepresent qualifications, present positions, or other facts concerning an opponent.
“Judicial candidates should be scrupulously fair and accurate in all statements made by them and by their campaign committees," it states.
It states that when false or misleading statements have been made about a candidate, the opponent should disavow them and request the source to cease.
It states successful candidates are subject to discipline for campaign conduct.
It states judges and candidates must be free and appear to be free from influence.
It states perception of influence can erode public confidence.
“Campaigns for judicial office must be conducted differently from campaigns for other offices," it states.
It states the rule’s narrow restriction on activities of candidates allows them to provide sufficient information for voters to distinguish between them.