Mayor Daley starBy Greg Hinz - Crain's Chicago Business
Oct. 29, 2006
Mayor Richard M. Daley has given the green light to his campaign finance team to gear up for what is likely to be his most expensive election campaign ever.
Sources close to the matter report that a veteran financial crew headed by former presidential fund-raisers Louis Sussman and William Daley, the mayor's brother, has begun making select calls to top donors with an eye toward lining up at least $3 million in early commitments. Other efforts reportedly will come later, including Mayor Daley's first major fund-raiser in more than two years.
The $3-million figure "is the starting point for us," confirms Terry Peterson, Mayor Daley's unofficial campaign manager. He says the mayor has not yet decided whether to run in the February municipal election and will make no announcement until after the Nov. 7 general election. But "he has asked us to start looking at the process of running. Part of that process involves the fund-raising apparatus."
Mayor Daley's campaign committee currently has just under $2 million in the bank. He spent $3 million against token opposition in 2003 and $6 million dispatching underfunded U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush in 1999.
Since then, Mayor Daley's government has been under intense scrutiny by federal prosecutors, with former city patronage chief Robert Sorich convicted of corruption charges and other top hands being investigated. In addition, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Chicago, has strongly hinted he intends to run, leading Daley insiders to conclude that the mayor needs to build a war chest of at least $8 million and possibly more.
Mr. Peterson declines to name a figure, but says Chicagoans "can assume that the mayor and the mayor's people are putting together a process in case he runs." The mayor's brother and Mr. Sussman "certainly haven't been on vacation," Mr. Peterson says.
Neither Mr. Sussman, who was national finance chairman for U.S. Sen. John Kerry's 2004 bid for president, nor William Daley, who managed Al Gore's presidential campaign in 2000, was available for comment. Both were reported to be out of the country.
One top fund-raiser contacted on behalf of the mayor says he was sounded out on the possibility of pledging to give or raise money on a predetermined schedule that potentially could extend beyond the election itself. That source declines to be named.
After the first round of city elections - less than four months away - a runoff would occur in April in the event no candidate gets a majority of the vote.
In addition to Rep. Jackson, U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Chicago, has indicated he is considering running. And a third Democrat, Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown, has announced her candidacy.
Steven R. Strahler contributed.
©2006 by Crain Communications Inc.
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