Chicago City Wire

Longtime 14th Ward Alderman Ed Burke is facing a 14-count federal indictment, but that hasn’t stopped donors from sending money his way.

Since the first of the year, his Friends of Edward M. Burke campaign committee has received $3,500 from donors and the 14th Ward Regular Democratic Organization, a committee Burke also controls, has received $12,000, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE). The Burnham Committee, another committee controlled by Burke, has had no donations since Jan. 1.

The largest donation was $10,000 made by Richard L. Kruse to the 14th Ward committee. Kruse is a lawyer in Lincolnwood who specializes in real estate and estate planning law. He is a long-time donor to Burke’s political causes,  having given $66,500 to the three campaign committees controlled by the alderman since 2006, the ISBE reported.

Burke, the longest-serving alderman in Chicago, has been on the City Council since 1969. 

In January, the U.S. Attorney’s Office charged him with 14 counts of racketeering, attempted extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion and using interstate commerce to facilitate unlawful activity. 

Prosecutors allege that Burke delayed a permit to the owner of a fast-food restaurant in order to pressure him to hire his law firm, Klfter & Burke, to appeal his property taxes. 

Even after the indictment, voters elected him to serve another term as alderman of Chicago’s 14th Ward. 

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Donations to Ald. Ed Burke since Jan. 1

Donor	Committee	Amount
Conor Globe Chicago I. LLC	Friends of Edward M Burke	$1,500
Richard L. Kruse	14th Ward Regular Democratic Org	$10,000
James J. O'Connor	Friends of Edward M Burke	$1,000
Edward Burke, Att at Law	14th Ward Regular Democratic Org	$1,000
George Loeber	Friends of Edward M Burke	$200
Alfred G.Ronan LTD	14th Ward Regular Democratic Org	$500
The Standard Companies	Friends of Edward M Burke	$800
T Mobile USA, Inc.	14th Ward Regular Democratic Org	$500

Source: Illinois State Board of Elections