Illinois officials focus on gaming

John Kelly

Monday, Feb. 4, 2002 | 10:03 a.m.

CHICAGO -- Gambling interests dumped at least $300,000 into state election campaigns during the second half of last year, with most going to key state legislators and little reaching the six candidates for governor.

The largest donations were reserved for Senate President James "Pate" Philip, R-Wood Dale, and House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, D-Chicago, as well as the leadership funds they control as they try to get members of their parties elected so they can maintain majority control of the House and Senate.

Madigan, for example, received $10,000 each from Casino Queen of East St. Louis and the Cicero-based National Jockey Club. Philip's Senate Republican Campaign Committee took $10,000 checks from Arlington International Race Course in Arlington Heights and the Casino Queen, which passed out a total of at least $42,900.

The Arlington track, owner Richard Duchossois, his relatives and the family's business empire combined to donate at least $80,000 to various state political campaigns. Donors tied to the Duchossois companies gave a combined $25,000 to Philip's committees, $12,000 to House Minority Leader Lee Daniels, R-Elmhurst, and $3,000 to the Democratic Party of Illinois.

Gubernatorial candidates reported few gifts directly from gambling interests.

One exception was $5,000 that Attorney General Jim Ryan received from Thomas C. Wilmot, a New York shopping mall developer who said he is bankrolling the Miami Indians' quest for a casino in downstate Illinois. Early last year, Wilmot also donated $10,000 to Gov. George Ryan's campaign fund.

The donations came while the state was embroiled in a federal lawsuit by the Miami Indians, who were seeking to reclaim 2.6 million acres of land in 15 counties. The Oklahoma-based tribe later dropped its lawsuit but vowed to keep fighting for land its leaders said they never surrendered to the United States in 19th century treaties.

"I'm very concerned because this speaks to Mr. Wilmot's plan to use his money and influence to bring an Indian casino to Illinois regardless of what the people here want," said Rich Porter, a catering company owner in Paxton who has been an outspoken opponent of the Miami land claim and casino bid.

Dan Curry, a spokesman for Jim Ryan's campaign, said they would take another look at the contribution.

"When we took the money we didn't consider him to be a direct gambling interest," Curry said, adding "At this point we don't see a reason to give the money back."

Asked about the gift to Gov. Ryan last fall, spokesman Dennis Culloton said the governor never met with Wilmot about the Miami Indians and campaign donations would never influence his decisions while in office.

Rosemont Mayor Donald E. Stephens, who for years has vied through the political system to get a casino approved for his suburban Chicago community near O'Hare International Airport, gave $5,000 to Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood's gubernatorial campaign. That was part of at least $14,000 in campaign gifts Stephens doled out.

Harrah's Operating Co., which has a riverboat casino in Joliet, gave $35,725. Harrahs' most generous donation was to KOMPAC State Victory Fund, a political action committee that gives money to Republican candidates in and outside Illinois.

Par-A-Dice Gaming Corp., which has a casino in East Peoria, gave at least $11,700 to state campaigns, including $1,000 each to Philip and Madigan. Hollywood Casino-Aurora gave more than $16,750, including $2,000 each to Daniels and the Democratic Party of Illinois.

Elgin Riverboat Resort & Casino gave $3,500 to Daniels and another $2,500 to the House Republican Campaign Committee. The companies that run the Alton Belle Casino gave out at least $38,000. Cicero-based National Jockey Club, Sportsman's Park and their executives gave at least $23,000 -- $10,000 of that to Madigan.