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Sunday, December 22, 2024

Analysis: Chicago Alderman Reilly uses campaign funds to pay $30K in bar tabs

Brendan reilly

Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly (second from right) has used his campaign account nearly 200 times to pay tabs at his favorite River North bar. | Wordpress.com

Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly (second from right) has used his campaign account nearly 200 times to pay tabs at his favorite River North bar. | Wordpress.com

At a River North tavern where he’s considered a “regular,” 42nd Ward Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly has paid the tab with his campaign account nearly 200 times.

That’s according to filings by Riley’s campaign committee, Citizens for Reilly, with the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE).

All told, Citizens for Reilly reports having picked up 198 tabs at Boss Bar, 420 N. Clark Street, totaling $29,824, for an average bill of $200.16.

That includes eight Boss Bar tabs in his last state filing, covering campaign spending July 1 through Sept. 30.

Reilly spent $101 at Boss Bar on Thurs. Aug. 2, and $150 on Fri. Aug. 3, $276 in two tabs on Thurs. Aug. 30, $195 on Thurs. Sept. 6 and $231 the next day, Fri. Aug. 7.

Chicago City Wire examined twelve years of Citizens for Reilly campaign finance reports covering $4.926 million in total spending over the alderman’s political career, which began in 2006 when he first ran for Chicago City Council , challenging and defeating nine-term incumbent Burton Natarus.

"Meeting"

Per Illinois state law, campaign finance reports require stating a “purpose” for every Citizens for Reilly expenditure. 

Reilly describes 90 percent of his tabs at Boss Bar, a majority of which are listed as payments to the tavern’s holding company, Washington Square Liquors, Inc., as "meeting."

The revelation of Reilly’s atypical committee spending comes at a time of heightened scrutiny, as lIllinois Auditor General Frank Mautino (D-Spring Valley) faces federal investigation for his own, prolific use of campaign funds for personal expenses— including on gasoline, car repairs and at restaurants— during a long career as state representative.

Reilly’s filings show he didn’t just pay for “meetings” at Boss Bar, but also at watering holes and restaurants across the 42nd Ward, which includes The Loop, River North and the Magnificent Mile.

Records show Citizens for Reilly spent another $8,167 on meetings, incuding $2,323 for 15 meals at Chicago Cut (300 N. LaSalle St.) and $441 for nine “meetings” at  312 Chicago (136 N. La Salle St.) along with meetings at the Berghoff, Tavern on Rush, Petterinos, Siena Tavern, The Whiskey Bar, Randolph Tavern and Boone’s Saloon in Springfield, across from the Illinois State Capitol.

Washington Square Liquors, Inc. was first incorporated in 1987. Its current president is Shay Ghazimoradi, 32, who lists his home address as 420 N. Clark Street, Chicago, or the same address as Boss Bar.

In 2017, Ghazimoradi contributed $5,400 to Reilly and another $2,500 to the Reilly-controlled 42nd Ward Democratic Organization.

In March, Reilly spoke out against St. Patrick's Day revelers in his ward, condemning the "thousands of drunk suburban kids who used our neighborhoods like a giant toilet bowl."

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Chicago's Barfly Alderman?

42nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly has paid the tab at this favorite River North bar 198 times, totaling nearly $30,000.

Paid ToDateAmountPurpose
Boss BarThursday, August 26, 2010$32.00Political Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, September 7, 2010$60.00Volunteer Appreciation
Boss BarFriday, October 29, 2010$150.00Volunteer Appreciation
Boss BarMonday, November 15, 2010$40.00Political Meeting
Boss BarFriday, December 3, 2010$43.50Volunteer Appreciation
Boss BarMonday, December 13, 2010$50.00Volunteer Appreciation
Boss BarThursday, April 7, 2011$115.00Volunteer Appreciation
Boss BarThursday, April 7, 2011$168.00Volunteer Appreciation
Boss BarThursday, April 28, 2011$43.80Political Meeting
Boss BarWednesday, May 18, 2011$84.00Volunteer Appreciation
Boss BarMonday, June 6, 2011$79.80Political Meeting
Boss BarFriday, June 17, 2011$55.00Political Meeting
Boss BarMonday, June 20, 2011$92.75Volunteer Appreciation
Boss BarThursday, June 23, 2011$45.00Political Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, June 28, 2011$60.40Donor Appreciation
Boss BarTuesday, July 5, 2011$83.00Meeting
Boss BarThursday, July 14, 2011$43.60Meeting
Boss BarMonday, August 1, 2011$75.20Meeting
Boss BarMonday, August 15, 2011$85.80Meeting
Boss BarMonday, August 22, 2011$37.40Meeting
Boss BarFriday, September 9, 2011$67.00Meeting
Boss BarMonday, September 19, 2011$33.20Meeting
Boss BarMonday, September 19, 2011$82.80Meeting
Boss BarMonday, September 26, 2011$70.40Meeting
Boss BarMonday, September 26, 2011$36.60Meeting
Boss BarMonday, October 3, 2011$46.00Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, October 11, 2011$81.60Meeting
Boss BarMonday, November 14, 2011$74.60Meeting
Boss BarFriday, November 18, 2011$120.80Meeting
Boss BarMonday, November 28, 2011$46.00Meeting
Boss BarFriday, December 9, 2011$80.00Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, January 17, 2012$85.00Meeting
Boss BarWednesday, February 29, 2012$191.40Meeting
Boss BarWednesday, March 14, 2012$22.94Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, March 20, 2012$200.00Gratuity
Boss BarWednesday, March 21, 2012$64.00Meeting
Boss BarMonday, May 21, 2012$69.80Meeting
Boss BarFriday, June 8, 2012$68.00Meeting
Boss BarFriday, June 22, 2012$99.00Meeting
Boss BarFriday, June 29, 2012$121.40Meeting
Boss BarMonday, July 2, 2012$100.60Meeting
Boss BarMonday, July 9, 2012$98.60Meeting
Boss BarFriday, July 27, 2012$42.40Meeting
Boss BarMonday, July 30, 2012$73.55Meeting
Boss BarMonday, July 30, 2012$21.90Meeting
Boss BarWednesday, August 29, 2012$54.00Meeting
Boss BarFriday, October 5, 2012$19.92Meeting
Boss BarFriday, October 12, 2012$24.00Meeting
Boss BarFriday, October 26, 2012$58.47Meeting
Boss BarMonday, December 24, 2012$107.00Meeting
Boss BarWednesday, October 2, 2013$50.80Meeting
Boss BarFriday, December 20, 2013$142.80Meeting
Boss BarThursday, March 20, 2014$472.00Election Night
Boss BarMonday, June 9, 2014$54.00Meeting
Boss BarThursday, June 26, 2014$118.40Meeting
Boss BarThursday, August 7, 2014$43.15Meeting
Boss BarFriday, September 19, 2014$27.20Meeting
Boss BarMonday, September 22, 2014$237.25Meeting
Boss BarThursday, November 6, 2014$1,071.35Volunteer Appreciation
Boss BarFriday, December 12, 2014$90.35Meeting
Boss BarMonday, December 22, 2014$211.90Meeting
Boss BarWednesday, February 11, 2015$48.80Meeting
Boss BarFriday, February 13, 2015$56.60Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, February 17, 2015$111.60Meeting
Boss BarThursday, February 19, 2015$72.70Meeting
Boss BarThursday, February 26, 2015$191.50Meeting
Boss BarMonday, March 30, 2015$77.70Meeting
Boss BarFriday, April 10, 2015$232.30Meeting
Boss BarMonday, June 1, 2015$37.95Meeting
Boss BarThursday, June 4, 2015$140.50Meeting
Boss BarFriday, June 19, 2015$33.15Meeting
Boss BarFriday, July 17, 2015$37.45Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, July 21, 2015$165.90Meeting
Boss BarFriday, July 24, 2015$88.75Meeting
Boss BarMonday, July 27, 2015$102.45Meeting
Boss BarFriday, September 11, 2015$105.75Meeting
Boss BarFriday, September 25, 2015$65.90Meeting
Boss BarFriday, October 2, 2015$64.00Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, October 13, 2015$87.20Meeting
Boss BarFriday, October 23, 2015$120.95Meeting
Boss BarMonday, October 26, 2015$199.40Meeting
Boss BarFriday, October 30, 2015$199.80Meeting
Boss BarMonday, November 2, 2015$92.45Meeting
Boss BarWednesday, November 4, 2015$212.45Meeting
Boss BarMonday, December 21, 2015$280.15Holiday Party
Boss BarFriday, January 22, 2016$109.05Meeting
Boss BarMonday, January 25, 2016$87.15Meeting
Boss BarMonday, February 1, 2016$77.05Meeting
Boss BarMonday, February 8, 2016$72.60Meeting
Boss BarThursday, February 11, 2016$60.80Meeting
Boss BarFriday, February 12, 2016$272.70Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, February 16, 2016$163.55Meeting
Boss BarWednesday, February 17, 2016$74.40Meeting
Boss BarMonday, February 29, 2016$101.80Meeting
Boss BarMonday, March 7, 2016$220.40Meeting
Boss BarThursday, March 10, 2016$92.15Meeting
Boss BarMonday, March 28, 2016$126.15Meeting
Boss BarThursday, March 31, 2016$60.80Meeting
Boss BarMonday, April 11, 2016$79.40Meeting
Boss BarFriday, April 15, 2016$98.00Meeting
Boss BarFriday, April 22, 2016$156.45Meeting
Boss BarMonday, May 2, 2016$226.80Meeting
Boss BarMonday, May 9, 2016$122.00Meeting
Boss BarThursday, May 12, 2016$37.20Meeting
Boss BarMonday, May 23, 2016$29.20Meeting
Boss BarThursday, June 16, 2016$40.80Meeting
Boss BarWednesday, June 22, 2016$30.40Meeting
Boss BarFriday, June 24, 2016$155.60Meeting
Boss BarMonday, June 27, 2016$174.30Meeting
Boss BarMonday, August 1, 2016$148.10Meeting
Boss BarMonday, August 29, 2016$189.70Meeting
Boss BarFriday, September 2, 2016$91.30Meeting
Boss BarFriday, September 9, 2016$40.50Meeting
Boss BarMonday, September 12, 2016$53.35Meeting
Boss BarMonday, September 19, 2016$127.55Meeting
Boss BarWednesday, September 21, 2016$73.55Meeting
Boss BarMonday, September 26, 2016$140.00Meeting
Boss BarFriday, September 30, 2016$289.60Donor Appreciation
Boss BarTuesday, October 4, 2016$95.00Meeting
Boss BarFriday, October 28, 2016$142.20Meeting
Boss BarThursday, November 10, 2016$1,498.65Election Night Party
Boss BarMonday, November 21, 2016$154.10Meeting
Boss BarFriday, December 23, 2016$66.30Meeting
Boss BarMonday, January 9, 2017$147.15Meeting
Boss BarFriday, January 13, 2017$56.60Meeting
Boss BarThursday, January 19, 2017$291.30Meeting
Boss BarThursday, March 2, 2017$143.60Meeting
Boss BarThursday, March 9, 2017$100.20Meeting
Boss BarFriday, March 17, 2017$70.80Meeting
Boss BarMonday, March 20, 2017$219.55Meeting
Boss BarMonday, April 10, 2017$160.90Meeting
Boss BarMonday, April 17, 2017$134.10Meeting
Boss BarMonday, April 24, 2017$258.15Meeting
Boss BarFriday, May 19, 2017$34.65Meeting
Boss BarThursday, May 25, 2017$91.20Meeting
Boss BarMonday, June 5, 2017$101.60Meeting
Boss BarMonday, June 12, 2017$144.45Meeting
Boss BarMonday, June 26, 2017$147.30Meeting
Boss BarThursday, June 29, 2017$103.95Meeting
Boss BarMonday, July 3, 2017$307.45Meeting
Boss BarThursday, July 13, 2017$262.20Meeting
Boss BarMonday, July 17, 2017$158.35Meeting
Boss BarMonday, July 31, 2017$250.60Meeting
Boss BarMonday, August 7, 2017$66.85Meeting
Boss BarMonday, August 21, 2017$401.05Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, September 12, 2017$80.00Meeting
Boss BarThursday, September 14, 2017$38.05Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, September 26, 2017$42.00Meeting
Boss BarMonday, October 2, 2017$224.45Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, October 10, 2017$220.85Meeting
Boss BarMonday, October 16, 2017$394.50Meeting
Boss BarThursday, October 19, 2017$65.00Meeting
Boss BarFriday, November 3, 2017$178.35Meeting
Boss BarMonday, November 6, 2017$142.85Meeting
Boss BarMonday, November 6, 2017$327.55Meeting
Boss BarMonday, November 13, 2017$74.40Meeting
Boss BarMonday, November 13, 2017$91.40Meeting
Boss BarMonday, November 20, 2017$254.65Meeting
Boss BarFriday, December 1, 2017$88.65Meeting
Boss BarMonday, December 4, 2017$344.05Meeting
Boss BarThursday, December 7, 2017$105.05Meeting
Boss BarFriday, December 8, 2017$120.00Meeting
Boss BarMonday, December 11, 2017$545.90Event Expense
Boss BarWednesday, December 20, 2017$69.40Meeting
Boss BarThursday, December 21, 2017$120.00Meeting
Boss BarFriday, December 22, 2017$321.60Event Expense
Boss BarTuesday, December 26, 2017$150.00Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, January 16, 2018$319.50Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, January 16, 2018$292.25Meeting
Boss BarMonday, February 5, 2018$84.15Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, February 20, 2018$140.00Meeting
Boss BarMonday, March 5, 2018$235.50Meeting
Boss BarFriday, March 9, 2018$172.35Meeting
Boss BarMonday, March 12, 2018$210.00Meeting
Boss BarFriday, March 16, 2018$43.60Meeting
Boss BarSaturday, March 17, 2018$967.55Volunteer Appreciation
Boss BarTuesday, March 20, 2018$1,607.65Election Night Party
Boss BarMonday, March 26, 2018$49.00Meeting
Boss BarThursday, March 29, 2018$221.05Meeting
Boss BarFriday, April 20, 2018$9.00Meeting
Boss BarThursday, May 24, 2018$207.25Meeting
Boss BarFriday, May 25, 2018$221.10Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, May 29, 2018$230.00Meeting
Boss BarTuesday, May 29, 2018$26.25Meeting
Boss BarThursday, June 7, 2018$81.20Meeting
Boss BarMonday, June 11, 2018$231.25Meeting
Boss BarMonday, June 18, 2018$227.65Meeting
Boss BarMonday, June 18, 2018$101.60Meeting
Boss BarFriday, June 22, 2018$97.35Meeting
Boss BarThursday, June 28, 2018$34.00Meeting
Boss BarMonday, July 2, 2018$306.30Meeting
Boss BarMonday, July 16, 2018$276.95Meeting
Boss BarThursday, August 2, 2018$101.40Meeting
Boss BarFriday, August 3, 2018$149.80Meeting
Boss BarThursday, August 30, 2018$198.75Meeting
Boss BarThursday, August 30, 2018$76.95Meeting
Boss BarThursday, September 6, 2018$194.50Meeting
Boss BarFriday, September 7, 2018$231.25Meeting

TOTAL$29,824.33

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