Metro East Sun

SPRINGFIELD – The law firms of John Simmons, Randy Gori and Tom Keefe gave $779,734 to campaigns of Illinois Democrats from Sept. 1 to Oct. 10.  

Simmons Hanly Conroy, in East Alton, contributed $309,100. Gori Julian, in Edwardsville, contributed $270,584. Keefe, Keefe and Unsell, in Belleville, contributed $200,050.  

They mostly picked common targets, giving identical amounts to 19 candidates. The money flew far from home, and incumbents took the lion’s share.  

Each firm gave $10,800 to Illinois Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago, for a total of $32,400.  Likewise they gave $32,400 to Rep. Emily Klunk-McAsey of Romeoville and Rep. Katherine Cloonen of Kankakee.

They gave $30,000 to Reps. Kathleen Willis of Northlake, Martin Moylan of Des Plaines, Michelle Mussman of Schaumburg and Natalie Manley of Joliet.  

They gave $22,500 to Rep. Brandon Phelps of Harrisburg and House candidate Merry Marwig of Chicago.  

They gave Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Aurora $18,000.  

They gave $15,000 to Sen. Melanie Bush of Grayslake, Rep. Anna Moeller of Elgin, Rep. Deb Conroy of Villa Park, and House candidates Greg Hose of Downers Grove and Cynthia Borbas of Carol Stream.  

They gave Sen. Thomas Cullerton of Villa Park $13,200.  

They gave $7,500 to House candidates Katie Stuart of Edwardsville and Mike Halpin of Rock Island.  

Other candidates received contributions from one or two of the big three firms.  

Gori and Keefe each gave $10,800 to Rep. John Bradley of Marion, and they each gave $10,800 to Rep. Sam Yingling of Grayslake.  

Keefe gave $13,300 to Rep. Daniel Beiser of Alton, and Simmons gave Beiser $10,800.  

Simmons gave $10,800 to House candidate Mike Mathis of Gillespie, and Keefe gave him $1,000.  

Simmons gave $10,800 to Rep. Jack Franks of Woodstock, $10,000 to Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart, and $2,500 to Senate candidate Sheila Simon of Carbondale.  

Gori backed three Madison County campaigns, giving $8,800 to state’s attorney Tom Gibbons, $8,584 to County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan, and $5,000 to Amy Meyer, running for recorder.  

Gori gave $4,000 to St. Clair County Chief Judge John Baricevic.  

Simmons, Gori and Keefe also supported the party structure. All three gave $21,600 to the Senate campaign fund, for a total of $64,800. Simmons and Gori together gave $43,200 to the state party, $43,200 to the House campaign fund, and $21,600 to House Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago.  

Simmons, Gori and Keefe each gave $8,200 to John Cullerton’s campaign for the state party committee, for a total of $24,600.  

Each gave $3,500 to a Taxpayers Alliance committee, for a total of $10,500.

Simmons gave $20,000 to the Madison County central committee and $5,000 to an association of county party chairmen.  

Since the first of 2015, the three firms have contributed $1,695,034 to campaigns of Illinois Democrats.  

Simmons has provided $614,250, Gori $582,334, and Keefe $498,450.