Since Aldertrack tracks weekly contributions from the date the donation was filed with the State Board of Elections (SBOE) rather than the date the contribution was received, this article includes contributions that date back to April, but went unreported until July 15, which is when most aldermen filed their quarterly reports.

Spreadsheet of Contributions – Download CSV

For example, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle reported three in-kind contributions for political communications to the candidate committees for Ald. Willie Cochran (21) and Ald. James Cappleman (46). The group Preckwinkle for President spent $5,375.04 on “paid communications” for Ald. Cappleman and two in-kind contributions totaling $5,263.78 for phone communications for Ald. Cochran. Since both were reported on July 15, which is the same date the quarterly report was filed, the contributions could be election related.

In addition to the contribution from President Preckwinkle, Ald. Cochran also reported a $2,500 contribution from A-1 Roofing Company, a commercial roofing and sheet metal company that operates in Chicagoland and Northern Illinois. While the company hasn’t had a contract with the City of Chicago since 2002, it is on the pre-qualified list of contractors for Chicago Public Schools. Ald. Cappleman also got a $1,000 donation from The Building Group Inc., a property management company that oversees several high-rise, mid-rise, town homes, co-ops, and rentals across the city and surrounding suburbs.

Ald. Margaret Laurino (39) reported receiving $2,500 from Chicago Food Corporation President Ki P. Hong. The CFC owns three stores in Chicago that specialize in Asian produce and groceries. One of their stores, Hi Mart, sells restaurant supplies, gift sets, and china. The company, founded in 1980, bills itself as one of the largest suppliers of specialty food imported from Asia.

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) got a $1,000 boost from labor. The A-1 Ald. Dowell reported lists “Construction & General Labors”, but the address matches up with the Chicago Laborers District Council, a labor organization with 20 local affiliates representing 20,000 construction workers across the city. The organization is part of the Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA).

ComEd transferred $1,500 from its political action group, ComEdPAC to Ald. Carrie Austin (34).

Ald. Leslie Hairston (5) reported a $1,000 contribution from Brown and Momen, Inc., a general contracting service company.

Ald. Deb Mell (33) reported receiving $1,000 from the owner of Cermak Produce, Jimmy Bousis, and Ald. Toni Foulkes (16) reported a $1,000 contribution from UKAMAA Construction, Inc., which mainly does large-scale projects for retail, healthcare and higher education. UKAMAA built the Aldi supermarket in Chatham, among other projects.

New D-1s Filed

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) created a new political action committee United Neighbors of the 35th Ward, tasked with “organiz[ing] support of local candidates and issues chosen by our members,” according to the D-1 Ald. Ramirez-Rosa filed with the State Board of Elections on May 22. It is common for aldermen to create political action committees because they do not have the same contribution restrictions as candidate political committees. The committee currently has $619 of un-itemized contributions, according to the quarterly report filed July 15.

Newly elected Ald. Michael Scott, Jr. (24) plans to run for 24th Ward Democratic Committeeman according to this D-1 Ald. Scott filed with the SBOE July 13. The seat formerly held by retired Ald. Michael Chandler is now vacant, and the election is during next year's Democratic primary.