Daniel Biss has built up a huge lead in fundraising for Evanston’s mayoral election.
With a week left before the campaigns have to file their fourth quarter finance reports, the former state senator has reported raising $58,400 in contributions of $1,000 or more. That’s on top of the $20,074 Biss had on hand at the end of the 3rd Quarter.
Under state law, donations of $1,000 or more have to be reported within five days of receipt most of the year and with two days of receipt within 30 days of an election
The two other candidates in the mayoral contest, Lori Keenan and Sebastian Nalls have reported no contributions so far this quarter.
Keenan reported having no funds on hand when she formed her campaign committee in October. Nalls, in his third quarter report, said he had raised $170.
What each of the candidates have raised in smaller contributions should be known after the Jan. 15 filing deadline.
At Thursday night’s Central Street Neighbors Association forum, Keenan, who says the city “needs real change in leadership across the board” attacked Biss for having the support of all the incumbent aldermen.
But Biss said that was a sign that he can build broad support including from aldermen who themselves have very differing views.
Biss’s contribution reports list 32 donors. They range from business owner Joe Flanagan and philanthropist Charles Lewis to County Commissioner Larry Suffredin and Robert Crown Center activist Pete Giangreco. He’s also received a contribution, and an endorsement, from the Evanston Firemen’s Political Action Committee and a contribution from William Revelle, the husband of Alderman Eleanor Revelle, 7th Ward.
In the last two contested races for mayor in Evanston, in 2009 and 2017, the candidate who gained the most financial support also ended up winning the most votes.