Foster leads fundraising effort
By Kristen Schmidt - kschmidt@kcchronicle.com and Brenda Schory - Shaw Suburban Media
U.S. Rep. Bill Foster is leading the 14th Congressional District race in campaign contributions as third-quarter fundraising totals were released.
According to Foster’s campaign, $317,911 in contributions was received between July 1 and Sept. 30.
Top Republican opponent Ethan Hastert raised about $226,000, according to his campaign.
This amount reflects “a good deal of confidence people have in Ethan’s camp and the momentum that we’re building,” said Andrew Nelms, political director for the Hastert campaign.
Nelms added that Hastert’s campaign is not worried about coming in behind Foster, the Democrat who won a special election after Hastert’s father, Dennis Hastert, resigned from the seat in late 2007. His seat is up for re-election Nov. 2, 2010.
“He’s had a little bit of time here to rack up the connections that resulted in that money,” Nelms said.
Third-quarter results have also meant crossing the $1 million threshold for Foster. His campaign reported that it has raised $1,083,237 for the 2010 race.
But the congressman’s camp is cautious in celebration, knowing there is a long way to go and that the former Speaker’s son is leading the opposition in raising funds.
“Anyone who has the last name of Hastert must be taken seriously in an upcoming campaign,” said Matt Snodgrass, political director for the Foster campaign.
“We’d rather be ahead than behind,” Snodgrass added. “That’s true now as in any point in the campaign.”
State Sen. Randall Hultgren, R-Wheaton, who will go against Hastert in the Feb. 2, 2010 Republican primary, raised more than $74,000 since announcing his candidacy Sept. 28.
But coming in third place in terms of fundraising was not daunting at all to Hultgren.
“We say we’re number one,” Hultgren said. “Foster’s had a year to raise money and Hastert’s been raising money over the summer. We’ve just been fundraising over the last few days. We’re excited about the money we’ve raised. We’ve raised almost all of it in Illinois from people who can actually vote for me.”
Hultgren represents the 48th State Senate District, comprised of DuPage, Kane and Will Counties and all or part of Batavia, Geneva, Naperville, North Aurora, Warrenville, West Chicago, Wheaton and Winfield.
Jeffrey Danklefsen, 41, of Geneva said he raised $1,000 altogether. But he said he remains undaunted because the money is not really necessary until after the primary.
“It is difficult to raise money without any past political experience,” Danklefsen said. “I am not concentrating on fundraising, but getting my name out there.”
Federal Election Commission records for other Republican hopefuls Mark Vargas, 28, a St. Charles native, did not show financial filings. Vargas did not return voicemail messages seeking comment.
The election commission’s online records did not show the candidacy of a fifth GOP hopeful, Bill Cross of Shabbona. Cross did not return a voicemail message seeking comment.
