By Illinois Review
On Thursday, Illinois Review reported that nearly half of the IL GOP state central committee members haven’t donated to the IL GOP, despite serving as senior party officials.
And while many of the state central committee members are upset with this public revelation, not one single person has offered to show any proof that they have in fact donated to the IL GOP.
And since the state central committee and senior IL GOP officials are obsessed with money, Illinois Review is taking a deeper dive into some of these donations – or a lack thereof.
State central committee member Jesus “Jay” Reyes (Dist. 4), an attorney who served as Deputy Comptroller under the late Judy Baar Topinka – records indicate on the Illinois State Board of Elections website that he’s donated a total of $1,250. And both of his donations were in 2005 – $1,000 to Citizens for Judy Baar Topinka and $250 to the Peoples Economy Party.
A record of Open Secrets indicates Reyes made a single donation in 2005 to Judy Baar Topinka.
And not one donation to the IL GOP – an apparent prerequisite to attend last Saturday’s meeting according to senior IL GOP official Vince Kolber.
State central committee member Joan Lasonde (Dist. 9), the unofficial timekeeper during last Saturday’s meeting where she would yell, “time!” when grassroots speakers’ time was up – records indicate on the Illinois State Board of Elections website that she’s donated a total of $3,280 since 2013.
Her last donation was August 31, 2022 when she donated $250 to Patriots for Evan Kasal.
In 2018, Lasonde loaned her campaign committee, Joan for Illinois, $1,000.
In 2013, 2015 and 2016, Lasonde made several small donations to the New Trier Republican Organization.
A record of Open Secrets indicates Lasonde made four donations going back to 2013, totaling $1,500.
In 2016 and 2018, she made donations to herself.
And not one donation to the IL GOP – an apparent prerequisite to attend last Saturday’s meeting according to senior IL GOP official Vince Kolber.
State central committee member Laura Pollastrini (Dist. 11), who took over as GOP Treasurer – records indicate on the Illinois State Board of Elections website that she’s donated a total of $2,715.87 since 1994.
Her last donation was a $2,000 loan to herself on February 29, 2012.
In 2006, Pallastrini donated twice to Citizens for Pamela Fenner totaling $175.
In 1994, Pallastrini donated twice to the James Pate Philip Campaign Fund totaling $531.87.
A record of Open Secrets indicates Pallastrini made a total of four donations going back to 2006 totaling $2,175.
In 2012, Pallastrini donated $2,000 to herself, and in 2006 she made two donations totaling $175 to Pamela Joy Fenner.
And not one donation to the IL GOP – an apparent prerequisite to attend last Saturday’s meeting according to senior IL GOP official Vince Kolber.
Records indicate that Chicago GOP chair Steve Boulton, and Sergeant at Arms during last Saturday’s state central committee meeting – an appointment made by embattled chairman Don Tracy, where he spent the day harassing, intimidating and yelling at the grassroots attendees – even surrounding a speaker when their time was up during public comments.
Donation records show that Boulton hasn’t donated since 2013.
According to the Illinois State Board of Elections website, Boulton has donated a total of $1,425 since 2010. Three campaign contributions to the Dan Rutherford Campaign Committee in 2013, and one donation to the Mark Thompson Campaign Committee in 2010.
A record of Open Secrets also indicates a total of three donations – all going to Rutherford in 2013 totaling $425.
And not one donation to the IL GOP – an apparent prerequisite to attend last Saturday’s meeting according to senior IL GOP official Vince Kolber.
And as for Mr. Kolber – instead of addressing his belittling comments to the more than 200 grassroots conservatives in the room at last Saturday’s meeting, perhaps he should have faced his fellow state central committee members instead, and asked,
“If you haven’t donated to the IL GOP, then what are you doing here?”
It’s no wonder the IL GOP can’t win elections or raise any money – their own senior leaders don’t even support the party.
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