Chicago Alderman Ed Burke (D-14th) was indicted last week on extortion charges. | Wikicommons
Chicago Alderman Ed Burke (D-14th) was indicted last week on extortion charges. | Wikicommons
Democrats and Republicans. Conservatives and liberals. City dwellers and suburbanites. Supporters and opponents. Hatfields and McCoys.
When it comes to receiving the political support of Chicago Ald. Edward Burke (D-14th), anything-- anyone-- is possible.
You name 'em. Burke's supported them-- if just a tiny bit.
Since 1999, Burke has donated just over $1 million to 169 different elected officials and aspiring candidates for political office, according to an analysis of Illinois State Board of Elections reports by Chicago City Wire.
Most received just a dollop of his cash; 103 of the 169 received less than $1,500 from Burke.
Just four have received more than $30,000 from his $12 million war chest-- former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn ($404,150), recently deposed longtime state legislator and his younger brother, Dan Burke ($63,500), former Gov. Rod Blagojevich ($39,000) and former 33rd Ward Ald. Ted Matlak ($36,250).
Other Burke favorites have included former Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez ($24,000), former Cook County Assessor Jim Houlihan ($22,050, former Cook County Board President Todd Stroger ($20,000) and Cook County Judge James Patrick Murphy ($20,000).
All told, since 1999 Burke has made campaign contributions to 66 different Chicago aldermen, eight Cook County Board members and four members of the Cook County Board of Review, which handles property tax appeals (Burke is a property tax appeals lawyer).
Something for everyone
In Chicago's fiercest political rivalries, he's regularly chosen sides: both.
Burke has gave Todd Stroger $20,000 and his father, John, another $10,000. He also supported the woman who ended the Stroger's reign, Toni Preckwinkle ($8,150 in Burke donations). She beat Todd Stroger in the 2010 Democrat primary for Cook County Board.
Alvarez received many checks from Burke. But so did Kim Foxx, who took out the incumbent Alvarez when she sought re-election in the 2016 primary.
Burke has given checks to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), who started his political career on the city's Southwest Side about the same time as he did, back in 1969.
But he's also made contributions to Madigan's GOP counterpart in Springfield, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs).
Burke has made contributions to 19 state legislators and legislative hopefuls-- 16 Democrats and three Republicans, including Durkin, former State Rep. Bob Biggins (R-Elmhurst) and Nic Zito of Wayne, who made an unsuccessful bid for an open seat in the 49th House district, which includes parts of St. Charles, West Chicago, Aurora, South Elgin, Bartlett and Batavia. Zito lost in the March primary.
Other Republicans backed by Burke include DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin of Elmhurst, former Cook County Board Commissioner Liz Gorman (R-Orland Park), former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran (R-Libertyville) and two suburban mayors, Brad Stephens of Rosemont and Roger Claar of Bolingbrook.
---
Burke's beneficiaries
See the 169 politicians Burke has backed since 1999
| Politician | Office/Candidacy | Community | Total |
| Pat Quinn | Governor | Chicago | $404,150 |
| Dan Burke | State Leg. | Chicago | $63,500 |
| Rod Blagojevich | Governor | Chicago | $39,000 |
| Ted Matlak | Alderman | Chicago | $36,250 |
| Anita Alvarez | State's Attorney | River Forest | $24,000 |
| James M. Houlihan | Cook Assessor | Chicago | $22,050 |
| Todd Stroger | Cook President | Chicago | $20,000 |
| James Patrick Murphy | Judge | Chicago | $20,000 |
| Patrick O'Connor | Alderman | Chicago | $19,725 |
| Tom Dart | Cook Sheriff | Chicago | $19,000 |
| Joseph Berrios | Cook Assessor | Chicago | $17,600 |
| John Pope | Alderman | Chicago | $16,100 |
| Dick Mell | Alderman | Chicago | $16,000 |
| Larry Rogers, Jr. | Cook Bd. of Review | Chicago | $12,900 |
| John P. Daley | Cook County Board | Chicago | $12,500 |
| Dick Devine | State's Attorney | Chicago | $11,000 |
| Jack Franks | State Leg. | Woodstock | $10,550 |
| John Stroger | Cook President | Chicago | $10,000 |
| Toni Preckwinkle | Cook President | Chicago | $8,150 |
| William E Gomolinski | Judge | Western Springs | $8,000 |
| Roger Claar | Mayor | Bolingbrook | $8,000 |
| Susana Mendoza | State Comptroller | Chicago | $7,750 |
| Tony Munoz | State Senator | Chicago | $7,750 |
| Raymond Lopez | Alderman | Chicago | $7,500 |
| Emma Mitts | Alderman | Chicago | $7,450 |
| Michael Cabonargi | Cook Bd. of Review | Wilmette | $7,300 |
| Carrie M. Austin | Alderman | Chicago | $6,700 |
| Howard Brookins, Jr. | Alderman | Chicago | $6,300 |
| Rahm Emanuel | Mayor | Chicago | $5,600 |
| Feddrena Lyle | Alderman | Chicago | $5,400 |
| Michael R. Zalewski | Alderman | Chicago | $5,150 |
| Leslie A. Hairston | Alderman | Chicago | $4,650 |
| James Cappleman | Alderman | Chicago | $4,000 |
| Margaret Laurino | Alderman | Chicago | $3,950 |
| Bob Fioretti | Alderman | Chicago | $3,750 |
| Tim Cullerton | Alderman | Chicago | $3,750 |
| Willie B. Cochran | Alderman | Chicago | $3,750 |
| Will Burns | Alderman | Chicago | $3,500 |
| John Garrido | Alderman | Chicago | $3,500 |
| Maureen Murphy | Cook Bd. of Review | Evergreen Park | $3,500 |
| Bernard Stone | Alderman | Chicago | $3,250 |
| Dan Cronin | DuPage President | Elmhurst | $3,200 |
| Jesse White | Sec of State | Chicago | $3,200 |
| Lona Lane | Judge | Chicago | $3,100 |
| Barrett F. Pedersen | Mayor | Franklin Park | $3,050 |
| Patrick D. Thompson | Alderman | Chicago | $3,000 |
| Dan McLaughlin | Mayor | Orland Park | $3,000 |
| Paul O'Grady | Supervisor | Orland Township | $3,000 |
| Ed Smith | Alderman | Chicago | $2,750 |
| William M. Beavers | Alderman | Chicago | $2,750 |
| Bridget Gainer | Cook County Board | Chicago | $2,750 |
| Natashia Holmes | Alderman | Chicago | $2,500 |
| Sandi Jackson | Alderman | Chicago | $2,500 |
| Dan Hynes | State Comptroller | Chicago | $2,500 |
| Jim Durkin | State Leg. | Western Springs | $2,450 |
| Jeffrey Tobolski | Cook County Board | McCook | $2,100 |
| Anthony Napolitano | Alderman | Chicago | $2,000 |
| Robert Shaw | Alderman | Chicago | $2,000 |
| Toni L. Foulkes | Alderman | Chicago | $2,000 |
| Mike Frerichs | Comptroller | Champaign | $2,000 |
| Michael Alvarez | Water Reclaim Comm. | Chicago | $2,000 |
| Tom Tunney | Alderman | Chicago | $1,800 |
| Dorothy Brown | Circuit Clerk, Cook | Chicago | $1,750 |
| Patrick Levar | Alderman | Chicago | $1,700 |
| Anthony Beale | Alderman | Chicago | $1,600 |
| JoAnn Thompson | Alderman | Chicago | $1,550 |
| Danny Solis | Alderman | Chicago | $1,500 |
| George Cardenas | Alderman | Chicago | $1,500 |
| Latasha R Thomas | Alderman | Chicago | $1,500 |
| Roderick Sawyer | Alderman | Chicago | $1,500 |
| Tom O'Donnell | Alderman | Chicago | $1,500 |
| Richard Boykin | Cook County Board | Commissioner | $1,500 |
| Bill Kunkle | Judge | Indian Head Park | $1,500 |
| Joy Cunningham | Judge | Chicago | $1,500 |
| Michael J. Madigan | State Leg | Chicago | $1,500 |
| Brian Doherty | Alderman | Chicago | $1,475 |
| Rey Colon | Alderman | Chicago | $1,450 |
| Scott Waguespack | Alderman | Chicago | $1,450 |
| David Moore | Alderman | Chicago | $1,250 |
| Mary Ann Smith | Alderman | Chicago | $1,250 |
| Pat Dowell | Alderman | Chicago | $1,250 |
| Roberto Maldonado | Alderman | Chicago | $1,250 |
| Walter Burnett, Jr. | Alderman | Chicago | $1,250 |
| Christopher Getty | Mayor | Lyons | $1,250 |
| Liz Gorman | Cook County Board | Orland Park | $1,050 |
| Burton Natarus | Alderman | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Jesse Granato | Alderman | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Proco Joe Moreno | Alderman | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Sophia King | Alderman | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Vilma Colom | Alderman | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Kwame Raoul | Attorney General | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Anna Valencia | City Clerk | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Marty Stack | Cook Bd. of Review | Western Springs | $1,000 |
| John Fritchey | Cook County Board | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Dan Kubasiak | Judge | Glencoe | $1,000 |
| Lauretta Higgins Wolfson | Judge | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Maureen Ward Kirby | Judge | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Sharon Johnson Coleman | Judge | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Maureen E. Connors | Judge | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Patrick O'Shea | Judge | Wheaton | $1,000 |
| Chuck Fagan | Lake Co. Sheriff | Fox Lake | $1,000 |
| Paul Vallas | Mayor | Chicago | $1,000 |
| John Thomas Donovan | School Dist 230 Board | Palos Park | $1,000 |
| Maria A. Berrios | State Leg | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Nic Zito | State Leg | Wayne | $1,000 |
| Dena M. Carli | State Leg. | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Kevin Joyce | State Leg. | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Rich Kelly | Township Assessor | Orland Township | $1,000 |
| Maria Pappas | Treasurer | Chicago | $1,000 |
| Thomas Benigno | Village President | Norridge | $1,000 |
| George D. Alpogianis | Village Trustee | Niles | $1,000 |
| Ray Suarez | Alderman | Chicago | $900 |
| Judy Rice | Judge | Chicago | $800 |
| Bob Biggins | State Leg. | Elmhurst | $800 |
| Ameya Pawar | Alderman | Chicago | $750 |
| Brendan Reilly | Alderman | Chicago | $750 |
| Joe Moore | Alderman | Chicago | $750 |
| Terrence J. O'Brien | Water Reclaim Comm. | Chicago | $750 |
| Billy Ocasio | Alderman | Chicago | $500 |
| Chris Taliaferro | Alderman | Chicago | $500 |
| Manny Flores | Alderman | Chicago | $500 |
| Matt O'Shea | Alderman | Chicago | $500 |
| Susan Sadlowski Garza | Alderman | Chicago | $500 |
| Chris Kachiroubas | Circuit Clerk, DuPage | Elmhurst | $500 |
| Jim Laski, Jr. | City Clerk | Chicago | $500 |
| Joseph Mario Moreno | Cook County Board | Chicago | $500 |
| Christopher Kennedy | Governor | Kenilworth | $500 |
| John Patrick Callahan, Jr. | Judge | Western Springs | $500 |
| Marc Martin | Judge | Chicago | $500 |
| Thomas R. Mulroy | Judge | Chicago | $500 |
| Roger G. Fein | Judge | Northbrook | $500 |
| Mark Curran | Lake Co. Sheriff | Libertyville | $500 |
| Bradley Stephens | Mayor | Rosemont | $500 |
| Dennis Magee | Mayor | Merrionette Park | $500 |
| Michael J. Woodward | Mayor | Berwyn | $500 |
| Silviana Tabares | State Leg | Chicago | $500 |
| Edward Acevedo | State Leg. | Chicago | $500 |
| Emil Jones | State Senator | Chicago | $500 |
| Kim Foxx | State's Attorney | Flossmoor | $500 |
| Shaun Murphy | Township Assessor | Worth Township | $500 |
| Dorothy Tillman | Alderman | Chicago | $450 |
| Virginia A. Rugai | Alderman | Chicago | $450 |
| Karen Yarbrough | Cook Recorder | Maywood | $450 |
| Thomas W. Murphy | Judge | Chicago | $450 |
| Julie Hamos | State Leg | Evanston | $450 |
| Frank Avila | Water Reclaim Comm. | Chicago | $450 |
| Frank Soto | Village President | Bensenville | $300 |
| Ariel Reboyras | Alderman | Chicago | $250 |
| John Arena | Alderman | Chicago | $250 |
| Laura Liu | Judge | Chicago | $250 |
| Mary Lane Mikva | Judge | Chicago | $250 |
| Thomas V. Lyons | Judge | Chicago | $250 |
| Kevin Cunningham | Judge | Chicago | $250 |
| Luis Arroyo | State Leg | Chicago | $250 |
| Michael J. Zalewski | State Leg | Chicago | $250 |
| Emily McAsey | State Leg. | Lockport | $250 |
| Fran Hurley | State Leg. | Chicago | $250 |
| Jim DeLeo | State Senator | Chicago | $250 |
| Arenda Troutman | Alderman | Chicago | $200 |
| Deborah Graham | Alderman | Chicago | $200 |
| Gilbert Villegas | Alderman | Chicago | $200 |
| Tom Allen | Alderman | Chicago | $200 |
| Ed Moody | Cook County Board | Chicago Ridge | $200 |
| Daniel Berry | Judge | Chicago | $200 |
| Daniel Malone | Judge | Chicago | $200 |
| Robert J. Lovero | Mayor | Berwyn | $200 |
| Keith Nygren | McHenry Sheriff | Crystal Lake | $200 |
| Eamon McMahon | Trustee | Worth Township | $200 |
| William H. Hooks | Judge | Chicago | $150 |
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections
Alerts Sign-up