Chicago City Wire

Democrat Chicago lobbyist Ted Brunsvold donated $1,000 in September to the campaign of David Walsh, Republican candidate for a seat on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Board of Commissioners.

The Sept. 4 donation was reported by Walsh's campaign committee to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

The MWRD manages the Chicago area's sewage treatment plants. Commissioners earn $70,000 per year.

Walsh, who lives in the West Loop, was appointed by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in March to fill a vacancy on the board left by the death of Democrat Tim Bradford of Olympia Fields. He is a former newspaper executive who now serves as the top campaign manager for Illinois House GOP Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs). 

Durkin has faced criticism from Republicans for his solicitation of campaign donations from Democrat interests.

Brunsvold, of Old Town, made the contribution on behalf of his firm, Illinois Governmental Consulting Group LLC of Chicago. His only other contribution this year was to former Vice President Joe Biden's American Possibilities PAC for $2,500 in March, Federal Election Commission records show.

He is the son of the late Democrat State Rep. Joel Brunsvold (D-Rock Island), who served from 1983 to 2003 before being appointed to run the Illinois Department of Natural Resources by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

State Rep. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) was a partner of Brunsvold's before launching his own political career.

Brunsvold's firm currently represents 33 companies, including Allstate, Diageo North America, Dish Network, 3M and Advance America, according to the Illinois Secretary of State. The latter is a South Carolina-based payday lender.