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View Full Version : Chicago mayoral candidate’s $300K cash giveaway didn’t violate campaign rules, state says




Swordsmyth
07-23-2018, 03:16 PM
Mayoral candidate Willie Wilson (http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/business/willie-wilson-PEBS000009-topic.html) apparently did not violate election law by handing out $300,000 in cash Sunday to people at an event he attended with Gov. Bruce Rauner (http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/politics-government/government/bruce-rauner-PEPLT0009070-topic.html) at a South Side church, according to the state elections board.
Wilson campaign spokesman Scott Winslow said the millionaire businessman gave the money to people to help them cover the cost of their property taxes and other expenses as part of his long-standing philanthropic work through the Dr. Willie Wilson Foundation, a registered nonprofit.
Wilson gave out the money Sunday at an event at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, where he was joined by Rauner.
Illinois State Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dietrich said the fact that the money came from Wilson’s foundation seems to allow him to avoid running afoul of campaign finance laws.
“As far as we can see, it looks like he didn’t use campaign funds for this,” Dietrich said. “And there doesn’t appear to have been any quid pro quo, like, ‘Here’s some money, vote for me.’ So from our perspective, it doesn’t look like there was anything illegal about this.”

More at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-willie-wilson-money-handout-church-20180723-story.html#