Having spent an obscene $90,000 to buy the St. Charles mayoral election, let’s examine exactly who provided Clint Hull with the kind of funding that would make a countywide candidate salivate. Once again, to put that unheard-of expenditure into perspective, former St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina spent just 13 grand to win the 2013 race. And whenever anyone willfully corrupts the system with this kind of record-breaking cash, it’s up to reasonable journalists to expose the “enablers” involved. So let’s get started.
Again, Hull’s largest contributor—at $10,000—was Gary McGrath and McGrath Honda. I’d like to say “at least this one came from within St. Charles,” but that’s the problem with this mega-donation. There’s no way Mr. McGrath would part with tanto dinero without expecting something in return. To quote Mike Ditka on George Halas, anyone who’s ever dealt with his dealership knows “he throws nickels around like manhole covers.”
Given the sorry state of the local press, Hull and his donors counted on their vast apathy to shield their shenanigans. But the gravy train’s over. I’ll be watching for the inevitable McGrath quid pro quo—and others—like a raptor who hasn’t eaten for three days.
The penultimate egregious “gift” came in the form of $5,000 from Geneva’s Griffin, Williams, McMahon & Walsh law firm (actually $7,500—I’ll explain in a bit). We already know the shamelessly blatant pay-to-play payoff there was to swiftly install them as the St. Charles city attorneys. Now, they’ll get that contribution back in the form of one short month’s legal fees.
Apparently, the St. Charles Meyers & Flowers law firm’s $2,500 donation didn’t make the cut. But at least they know where the bar is set for 2029.
I’ve had some fun with Griffin Williams in the past, but the truth is they’re a really good law firm. Rick Williams deftly helped me out of a jam some years ago. I may not like Joe McMahon’s ethics (or the lack of them), but if an attorney with questionable ethics was a crime the jails would be full of ‘em. Every last Kane County attorney I’ve spoken with has told me that not only is managing partner Pat Griffin a great attorney, but he’s a really good guy, too—a very rare combination.
But here’s the thing Pat! Just as the great TV Judge Marilyn Milian admonished defendants in those ubiquitous “buying someone’s love” small claims court cases, the fact that someone offers you something does not obligate you to take it. And you clearly bought your boyfriend Clint’s love. Shame on you!
In a similar vein, every local attorney with whom I discussed this turn of events was more than dismayed. And attorneys have a far greater tolerance for political hanky panky than the average citizen does. So, much for your reputation, Pat.
We’re not going to cover every bleepin’ $500 donation because we’d be here all day if we did. But there is one $515.18 contribution that bears mention. First, the amount is rather peculiar, and second, it came from Geneva High School Principal, Tom Rogers.
Please let me clearly stipulate that, within the bounds of campaign finance reason, it’s every educator’s right to contribute to whatever political cause they see fit. But the fact that it’s a right doesn’t make it right. Endless unfunded government mandates and overly entitled parents make being a teacher/administrator difficult enough. So, why would any self-respecting principal make it even tougher by taking sides in what turned out to be a very divisive mayoral race?
Of course, all electoral contributions are public record, but you never know when some asshole journalist is gonna make it even more public.
I reached out to Mr. Rogers to get some sort of explanation for the strange amount and his motive, but no response was forthcoming. My theories are Genevans are paying Principal Rogers far too much and he’s not nearly smart enough to run a PTA bake sale, much less a high school.
To be fair, most of Hull’s donations came from St. Charles attorneys and residents and I don’t have a problem with a constituent putting their political money where their mouth is. That said, I would ask that plethora of $500 to $2,500 donors if turning the election into a big money ordeal serves the city’s best long-run interest.
Spoiler alert! It doesn’t!
But my previously noted greater concern is the amount of outside money flowing into Hull’s campaign coffers:
Baseline Distribution, Palatine $1,000
Cogan & Power PC, Chicago $1,000
Griffin, Williams, Geneva $5,000
Craig Keller, Maple Park $1,000
Joseph Klein, Schaumburg, $1,000
Mars Resort, Lake Geneva $2,500
Spartan Logistics, Palatine $1,000
Summit PAC, Geneva $2,500
For reference purposes, Cogan & Power is a Chicago personal injury law firm. Craig Keller owns Midwest Trading. Joseph Klein is a Schaumberg divorce attorney, and Summit PAC is headed up by the man who puts the “Williams” in Griffin Williams. That brings that law firm’s contributions to a profane $7,500—more than most Kane County mayoral hopefuls will ever be able to raise.
That (major) outside money total comes to $14,100 or more than Rogina spent on his first campaign. And if you don’t think that’s going to affect St. Charles in the worst possible ways, then you probably donated to Clint Hull. Newton’s third law of motion also applies to politics in that there’s always an equal and opposite reaction to every action at every level. To wit, one of the Batman movie theories is the Joker’s existence was a direct response to Batman’s, and whether he meant to or not, Hull just created a similar monster.
But here’s what really frosts my flakes.
I’ve known Clint for 20 years, and whether you ask him or not, he’ll be the first one to tell you that, where every other prosecutor and judge has failed, he’s the only one who’s singularly stood for truth, justice, and the American way. But as is the case with so many of the entitled folks who ply their trade in the Kane County Judicial Center, the second they’re presented with the opportunity to subvert the system they’ve sworn to uphold, that’s exactly what they do.
It’s as if toiling on behalf of “The People” somehow absolves them from any form of hypocrisy.
But it doesn’t!
What makes this situation particularly pernicious is Hull owes his entire professional existence to the Kane (and DeKalb) County taxpayer. We paid for his prosecutorial and judicial “education” and we set him up to make the kind of contacts who would so gleefully pour six-figures into his mayoral run. Had Hull stayed in private practice (where he couldn’t make it), he wouldn’t be the mayor of Hooterville.
Of course, I provided Mayor Hull with the opportunity to respond to this column, but he’s steadfastly refused to do so. Now that he doesn’t need us anymore, why should he have to answer to the likes of us?
Who knew Randy Newman was right about short people?
In our next column we’ll cover how the rubber stamp St. Charles City Council seems perfectly fine with a stolen election. I’ve already spoken with Alderman Pietryla, who’s mother clearly never taught him right from wrong. Don’t get me wrong, David is a nice and really funny guy, but he’s about as worthless a public servant as I’ve ever encountered.
I will endeavor to speak to the rest of the council before the next piece goes to print.
