Incumbent has more money than opponent in House 51 race

Veteran state Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr.'s re-election campaign is far better funded than his Democratic opponent's, new state records show.

Sullivan's campaign committee ended 2007 with more than $30,000 that can be used for the fight ahead -- nearly 13 times Democrat Amanda Howland's war chest.

Sullivan, of Mundelein, and Howland, of Lake Zurich, are set to face off in the race for the 51st House seat on Nov. 4. Neither faces a primary opponent Feb. 5.

The race is a rematch of the 2006 election, which Sullivan won handily to earn his third term.

Although both candidates spent tens of thousands of dollars on their last campaigns, Howland isn't worried about the financial disparity. She expects the same level of financial support she received in 2006.

"I know that I'm going to have money coming in," she said.

Sullivan doesn't expect he'll have to spend as much as he did two years ago -- more than $80,000 by his estimate -- to defeat Howland again.

"If the election was held today, I'd have a clear advantage," he said.

Sullivan and Howland filed campaign disclosure reports with the Illinois Elections Board within the last week. They show donations and expenditures made between July 1 and Dec. 31.

The Citizens for Sullivan group collected about $25,485 during the last six months of 2007, records show. It ended the year with about $30,407 in the bank.

Much of Sullivan's support came from political action committees representing gambling, pharmaceutical, insurance and energy interests, among other groups. Donations included:

• $250 from the Casino Queen in downstate East St. Louis.

• $1,000 from the Associated Beer Distributors' Springfield-based political committee.

• $500 from Penn National Gaming, a Pennsylvania firm that owns casinos and racetracks including the Empress Joliet and Hollywood Aurora.

• $1,000 from the Nicor Gas political committee.

• $250 from the Illinois Energy Association.

Howland said the corporate support shows Sullivan is not in touch with voters.

"His support is not coming from the constituency," she said.

Sullivan said his disclosure report primarily shows corporate support because extended sessions in Springfield kept him from holding local fundraisers last year.

Additionally, he said the business groups that support his candidacy "are the bread and butter of what make our economy drive."

The Friends for Howland committee collected $1,985 during the same time period, records show. Howland received some private donations and $500 from the Children's Law Group in Chicago, a firm in which she is a partner, reports indicate.

The committee ended the year with about $2,387 saved, records show.

Sullivan questioned whether Howland's lack of fundraising indicates her heart isn't in the race.

"Hopefully, it is," he said.

Howland said she's received pledges for more campaign support.

"I have a lot of dollars out there," she said.

Most of the 51st District is in southern and central Lake County.