Sangamon Sun

Liberty Principles PAC recently released its campaign donation amounts, totaling more than $2.9 million in support of 19 candidates in state races that the PAC endorsed this campaign season.

The largest amount of campaign support, according to the matrix provided by the PAC, went to working mother and activist Brandi McGuire. McGuire, a Republican, has received $537,348 as of this month, according to the matrix.

McGuire, the Milan Republican who is challenging Democrat Mike Halpin of Moline for the 72nd District state House seat, is best known for her legal battle against the Sherrard School District. The school district's response to her daughter, Kellsey, who has epilepsy, and her service dog, Jasper, became McGuire's raison d'être to run in the 72nd District. The school district eventually settled, and McGuire announced her campaign for the state house last fall.

McGuire and Halpin are running for the state House seat currently occupied by state Rep. Pat Verschoore (D-Milan). The 72-year-old Verschoore, who has represented the 72nd District since he was appointed March 29, 2003, has announced plans to retire after completing his present term.

Liberty Principles PAC's chairperson and treasurer is conservative radio talk show host Dan Proft. Proft also is senior fellow at the Chicago-based conservative think tank Illinois Policy Institute and co-founder of the nonprofit Illinois Opportunity Project.

The PAC also has provided $281,500 as of this month in support of Republican Lindsay Parkhurst of Kankakee, who is challenging state Rep. Kate Cloonen (D-Kankakee). Parkhurst recently denounced allegations of voter fraud revealed this month that Democrats and Unions are paying people for their votes this election seasons, including for votes for Cloonen. Parkhurst called upon Cloonen to also denounce those allegations but, to date, Cloonen has not done so.

The PAC's Matrix reveals a particularly wide range of political newcomers, including McGuire and Parkhurst.

The candidate who received the least support, according to the Matrix, is Republican Michael Amrozowicz of Grayslake, who is challenging state Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) for the 31st District seat. Amrozowicz thus far has received $35,000 from the PAC, according to the Matrix.

Other candidates, all Republicans mostly facing Democrat incumbents, who have received support from Liberty Principles PAC, according to the matrix, are Katherine Ruocco of Swansea, challenging state Rep. Jay C. Hoffman (D-Swansea) for the 113th District, who received $25,000; Heidi Holan of Glen Ellyn, challenging state Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park) for the 46th District, who received $364,400; Jillian Bernas of Schaumburg, challenging state Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg) for the 56th District, who received $101,250; Dawn Abernathy of Mundelein, challenging state Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills) for the 59th District, who received $229,335; Rod Drobinski of Wauconda, challenging Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake) for the 62nd District, who received $75,000; Republican Jason Kasiar of Eldorado, challenging state Rep. Brandon W. Phelps (D-Harrisburg) for the 118th District, who received $46,250; Tony McCombie of Savannah, challenging state Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) for the 71st District, who received $60,000; Jerry Long of Streator, challenging state Rep. Andy Skoog for the 76th District, who received $110,800; Mike Babcock of Wood River Township, challenging Democrat Daniel Beiser of Alton for the 111th District, who received $75,250; Dave Severin of Benton, challenging Marion Democrat John Bradley in the 117th District, who received $71,250; incumbent state Rep. Dwight Kay (R-Glen Carbon), challenged by Democrat Katie Stuart of Edwardsville for the 112th District, who received $91,250; incumbent state Rep. David Olsen (R-Downers Grove), challenged by Democrat Greg Hose of Downers Grove 81st District, who received $102,000; Mel Thillens (R-Park Ridge), challenging state Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) for the 28th District, who received $346,099; Michelle Smith of Plainfield, challenging state Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) for the 49th District, who received $301,866; Dale Fowler of Harrisburg, challenging state Sen. Gary Forby (D-Benton) for the 59th District, who received $85,250; and Seth Lewis of Barlett, challenging state Sen. Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) for the 23rd District, who received $70,000.

The total amount of monetary support given to all the candidates listed on the matrix was $2,983,912.