Evanston offers public campaign funds, but mayor hopefuls Biss, Boarini not getting them
Candidates who run for mayor of Evanston can tap into public campaign funds from the city, but neither incumbent Daniel Biss nor challenger Jeff Boarini, both running for mayor in the April 1 Cook County consolidated election, are doing so, according to the city's clerk.
The matching funds program began in 2023, when the Evanston City Council approved an ordinance allowing mayoral candidates to receive matching campaign donations from the city. Called the 'Small Donor Democracy Matching Fund,' it can help candidates who don't have large donors but do have a swell of donors giving amounts under $150.
The program is meant to 'empower grassroots supporters by amplifying small donations and reducing candidates' reliance on large donors or special interest groups,' according to the city's website.
City Clerk Stephanie Mendoza said in a phone call to Pioneer Press that candidates who have accepted donations over $150 cannot use the program. Mendoza said both Biss and Boarini were notified of the program and how it functions. Both have accepted larger donations.
The program is voluntary, meaning that if a candidate were to opt into it, they would need to reject donations greater than $150.
Boarini filed his campaign committee to the Illinois State Board of Elections on Oct. 2, 2024, records show. On Nov. 18, Boarini's campaign committee reported to the state Board of Elections his first contribution over $1,000, a $2,000 donation from a Wilmette couple.
Biss, who has been an elected official since 2011, has been using his 'Friends of Daniel Biss' committee since that year. His committee reported a $5,000 donation from the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council on Nov. 18, 2024.
The disparities in campaign donations are stark. Since Jan. 1, Boarini's campaign reported receiving $29,000 in large contributions ($1,000 or more). Also since Jan. 1, Biss' campaign reported receiving over $74,400 in large contributions, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections and Reform for Illinois' campaign finance database. Biss' campaign also reported having approximately $184,000 in funds available on the last day of 2024.
More accurate pictures of their fundraising will be known on March 31, because campaign laws require candidates to file contributions over $1,000 to the state within five business days, or two days in the 30-day period before an election, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections' 'A Guide to Campaign Disclosure.' Contributions under $1,000 can be reported in quarterly reports, with the next quarter ending on March 31, a day before the election.
Regarding the city's donor matching fund, it starts the year with $68,750, or 1/60th of 1% of the city's annual budget, whichever is greatest, according to the city's ordinance. Mendoza said even though the program is not being used in this election cycle, the funds are rolled over and can be used in future elections.
Mendoza said that the $150 donation is low for a mayoral race, and that it will be on the next City Council to look back on the current ordinance and see if there are any lessons to be learned.
Mendoza also said the next City Council could also decide to expand the program to better service ward races and first time candidates. Evanston's least expensive contested race with an opponent on the ballot is for the 8th Ward. Challenger and Former Land Use Commission Chair Matt Rodgers reported $2,000 in contributions since Jan. 1. Eighth Ward City Councilmember Devon Reid has not filed donations greater than $1,000 in 2025 as of deadline. The report coming out March 31 should list their smaller donations.
'It's a big ask,' for first-time candidates to solicit donations for their campaigns, Mendoza said.
The city council passed the ordinance on a 6-2 vote in Sept. 2023, per city documents. Reid and City Councilmember Tom Suffredin (4th) voted against it, with City Councilmember Bobby Burns (5th) absent from the vote.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
GoFundMe for teen who jumped in to work at Burger King on his graduation night tops $200,000
Contributors have given more than $200,000 to a high school graduate who jumped in to help coworkers at Burger King while still wearing his graduation apparel. His story went viral via a TikTok video. Burger King has separately given him a $10,000 scholarship. On May 21, Mykale Baker graduated from Mill Creek High School in a suburb of Atlanta. He might have known it was a day that would change his life when he woke up, but he absolutely didn't know the extent of that change. After the ceremony, Baker and his parents went to the local Burger King to grab dinner. Baker had worked there since February to save money for college and the family could eat at a discount. When they walked in, though, the place was booming—and there were only three employees trying to juggle cooking the food and handling customer orders. Baker volunteered to help and got straight to work, while still wearing his graduation medals and sash. A bit later, Maria Mendoza pulled up to the drive-thru and spotted Baker. She shot a video of him hard at work and posted it on TikTok, where it went viral. People asked how they could help Baker with his college expenses, so Mendoza launched a GoFundMe campaign. As of Friday morning, that campaign has gathered over $201,000 in pledges. 'While many graduates spent the night celebrating with friends and family, one young man quietly showed the world what determination looks like,' Mendoza wrote. Mendoza and Baker didn't know each other. She happened to be at the restaurant to pick up food for a party celebrating her own daughter's graduation from Mill Creek. Baker wasn't aware of the video or the fundraiser until three days later, when Mendoza spoke with the manager at Burger King, asking to meet Baker. The fundraiser, at the time, had collected $6,000. 'I didn't realize she was recording me,' Baker told The Washington Post. 'I felt very happy. I was surprised; I had never seen that much money in my life. … I'm very thankful to everyone who has donated and supported me through this journey.' Beyond the money raised via the GoFundMe, Burger King has presented Baker with a $10,000 scholarship—as well as a $10,000 scholarship for Mendoza's daughter. Baker had planned to take a gap year to save up for college. Now, he says, he has applied to a technical college and plans to study automotive technology this fall, with plans to become a mechanic. Until then, though, he plans to keep working at Burger King. 'I just love working,' he said. 'The people I work around make the job more fun.' This story was originally featured on
New York Post
6 days ago
- New York Post
Burger King employee Mykale Baker who rushed to work shift after high school graduation gifted $10K scholarship from fast-food giant
A whopper of a gift. The newly graduated high school Burger King employee, who rushed to work an emergency shift still wearing his ceremonial ensemble, received a royal bonus from the burger chain's scholarship fund. Mykale Baker was gifted $10,000 from the Burger King Foundation after his feel-good story went viral —thanks in part to a local mom who noticed the teen's unusual work attire, a spokesperson told The Post. Advertisement 5 Mykale Baker poses with a giant check awarded to him from the Burger King Foundation for $10,000 in scholarship funds on June 2, 2025. Burger King Baker, dressed in the proper Burger King uniform, posed with a larger-than-life check during a recent shift at the Dacula, Ga., restaurant where he works. The check was made out to the teen with the memo 'Burger King Scholars Program.' Advertisement Baker, 18, had graduated from nearby Mills Creek High School on May 21 but rushed to work a late-night shift after seeing his coworkers were swamped, instead of celebrating his major milestone. Eagle-eyed customer and mother, Maria Mendoza, saw Baker still wearing his graduation stole and medals while bagging fries inside. She posted the short clip to TikTok, which has garnered over 4.4 million views. 5 Mykale Baker works inside the Dacula, Ga. Burger King still wearing his graduation stole and medals on May 21, 2025. GoFundMe Advertisement 5 Baker graduated from Mills Creek High School hours earlier on May 21, 2025. GoFundMe After the success of the short social media post, Mendoza started a GoFundMe for Baker. The fundraiser, titled 'From Burger King to a College Dream,' was created to celebrate Baker's dedication to his job to pay for his college expenses. It has earned over $190,500 in donations as of early Wednesday. Advertisement Baker initially planned on taking a gap year between high school and college because of financial troubles, but was considering attending a trade school after Mendoza surprised him with the fundraiser. 'He didn't do it for attention. He doesn't even know his story went viral. But thousands of people were moved by his dedication, humility, and work ethic,' Mendoza wrote. Mendoza was captivated by Baker's 'radiating joy' and politeness, which inspired her to start the crowdfunding campaign. 'His dedication and quiet strength really moved me. I felt called to do something to recognize that,' she told 11 Alive. 'I'm just grateful I got to do something for him.' The Burger King Foundation also recognized Mendoza's kindness and awarded her daughter, Daizie Chavez, with $10,000 for her future education. 5 Daizie Chavez and Mykale Baker hold up their scholarship checks inside the Georgia restaurant Baker works at. Maria Mendoza/TikTok 5 Maria Mendoza and her daughter pose for a photo with Mykale Baker and his family after they were surprised by the Burger King Foundation. Maria Mendoza/TikTok Advertisement 'We are beyond grateful and truly overwhelmed by all the love and support,' Mendoza wrote on TikTok. 'Thank you from the bottom of my heart. God is good.' Chavez is planning to attend Georgia State University to study neuroscience.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Mets continue to stake claim as one of baseball's best with another win over Dodgers
LOS ANGELES — Nine months ago, the New York Mets were watching the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate on the same field they played Monday. And after being beaten by LA in the 2024 NL Championship Series, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged that his club still had a ways to go to get to the next level. Dodger Stadium serves as a reminder of not only where the Mets were, but where they want to go. Advertisement 'It was kind of like a sour taste,' Mendoza said before the game. 'But also understanding that after everything that we went through as a team to get to the NLCS when nobody thought about this team. And we ended up facing the team that ended up winning the World Series. 'Different feeling this year. Understanding that they're really good again, but we're also good.' It's been a little over a year since All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor called the team meeting that salvaged New York's season. The Mets would go on to have baseball's best record from that point in late May en route to the NLCS. One truth about baseball is how much things change dramatically from season to season. New players coming in and old players going out make duplicating the same chemistry challenging and oftentimes impossible. But the Mets have been able to do it. Advertisement Over the last calendar year, no team in MLB has a better record than the Mets, who are 103-61 since June 2, 2024. That's six wins better than the Dodgers, who have the second-best record in that span. In their first game back at Dodger Stadium since the NLCS, the Mets came out swinging. And who else would it be but their leader Lindor? The All-Star shortstop started the game with a leadoff homer, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead. But even after relinquishing their lead late, and coming a matter of feet from being walked off by Shohei Ohtani, who already homered in the game, New York found its resolve. They'd go on to score two runs in the 10th inning to retake the lead, eventually winning 4-3. Advertisement 'It feels good because you start the game 1-0, but at the end of the day, we understand that we have to play 27 outs,' Lindor said after the Mets' victory. 'That's a really good team on the other side, tough team. They're gonna play 27 outs, as well.' This season, the Mets have shown that the identity they created last season was not only real, but also sustainable. This season, they have the second-best record in baseball (38-22) and are now 10-5 over their last 15 games. 'They're grinding. It's a group that continues to fight," Mendoza said. "We went through a lot of adversity [last year]. Every team is going to go through adversity. … This group has been tested before. Advertisement And I just feel like not only do we have really good players, but they push each other, they prepare, and they're not afraid to hold each other accountable.' New York has now won three of their first four games against LA to take the upper hand on the season series. The Mets have started to get hot as they begin the month of June with a tough stretch, including two more in LA against the Dodgers, three games against the Philadelphia Phillies and six against the Atlanta Braves. There is no revenge won in June, but the Mets' win over the Dodgers and their success against them so far this season serves as a reminder of what they can be if they sustain this identity and level of play. And that's not only one of the best teams in baseball, but one that can go toe-to-toe with the best in the West.
