SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Republican Party has spent over $250,000 on one primary race thus far this year to re-elect appointed State Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Raymond). Bourne is facing two GOP primary opponents on March 15th.
Besides paying for polling and mailers, the IL GOP has spent over $200,000 broadcasting the following ad for Bourne on St. Louis metro media:
The state's GOP coffers started out the quarter with $400,498 available, and besides four contributions (including $21,000 from Com Ed), they have raised only one $1000 plus A-1 reportable donation: $900,000 from Citizens for Rauner.
The House Republican Organization is paying for Bourne's campaign staff.
Bourne was selected to replace retired State Representative Wayne Rosenthal, who resigned to lead the Illinois Department of Natural Resources at the request of Governor Rauner in 2015. Rosenthal, who had received thousands from public sector unions over his years in the legislature, was replaced by Bourne, with no public sector union ties.
Two other Republicans are challenging Bourne in her first election: Christopher Hicks of Sawyerville and Dennis Scobbie of Litchfield.
This is one reason why I seldom give any money to the Illinois Republican Party when they contact me looking for donations. I am a solid Illinois Republican but “I” prefer to be the person determining which candidate is worthy of my donation. That is a substantial amount of money to lay on any one GOP state candidate unless they are absolutely “critical” to initiating the forward progress of our state government. She may be a great lady and a great GOP candidate but there are many other great GOP candidates out there seeking our donation money as well.