Sheyman Raises $200,000 Since Jan. 1
Waukegan community organizer adds to coffers with less than three weeks before election day.
Continuing to improve his fundraising efforts, Ilya Sheyman disclosed today he raised more than $200,000 since the first of the year in his effort to secure the Democratic nomination to challenge Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth), according to Communications Director Joanna Klonsky.
Though the current reporting was only two months, Sheyman posted better numbers than he raised for any of the quarters of 2011. His best effort before this was $180,204 in the fourth quarter of last year.
“With this broad and deep fundraising base, we’ll have the resources needed to reach the Democratic primary voters we need, through a robust field program, an impactful television ad buy, and an innovative mail campaign,” Campaign Manager Annie Weinberg said.
According to Klonsky, more than 16,000 individuals have donated in excess of $630,000 to the campaign since Sheyman started his effort nearly a year ago.
The Waukegan community organizer will face Deerfield management consultant Brad Schneider, Mundelein attorney Vivek Bavda and Long Grove business owner John Tree in the March 20 Democratic primary. Early voting began Monday.
The Democratic primary winner will run against Dold in the Nov. 6 general election. Dold is unopposed for the Republican nomination.
No other candidates have released their fundraising results for January and February. Reports are due to the Federal Election Commission March 8.
Carol Kraines
4:11 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
People are getting to know Ilya, and appreciating his honesty and ability. He will be a breath of fresh air in Washington.
Jeff
4:51 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
I wasn't sure who I was going to vote for in this election, but was leaning towards Ilya until I received in the mail today a ruthless attack ad against his primary opponent. He talks about being "fresh air in Washington" but is using the same old smear tactics. I wont vote for anyone who runs a negative campaign, and I think many others agree with me. Dan seals' negative attack ads hurt him in 2010, and we can't go down that road again if we want to take this seat back. A word of advice: stay focused on the issues and don't smear the competition.
Nightcrawler
5:17 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
Good luck swearing off candidates who run negative ads. I did that for awhile, but got really tired of having my choices limited to the Socialist Workers.
Daniel
6:11 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
I agree 100%. Going negative in a Democratic primary is a really bad move. Thats one of the reasons why I support Brad, because instead of spending all his time attacking his opponents, he explains his positions and why he is the best candidate. This is how elections, or at the very least primary elections should work.
Abigail
7:13 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
Isn't attacking their opponents what Democrats do best?
flower child
10:24 am on Friday, March 2, 2012
I hear you Jeff about the negative ads. And I hated to see my candidate, Ilya Sheyman, taking this route.
But I believe he HAD to do so.
Why?
Because of a very different type of ad that the Schneider people were resorting to:
The make-a-batch-of-Tang-and-call-it-“fresh-squeezed” route.
In almost every single one of the dozen or so fliers they sent me (and presumably every other Dem-leaning household in the 10th District), Schneider referred to himself as a “Progressive”!
Brad gave 1000s to Kirk and other to Republican candidates.
Progressive Democrats don’t give 1000’s to GOP candidates. Period. Not even if they give 10’s of 1000’s to Democrats. That would be absurd to a true Progressive. Blue Dogs might donate to republicans. But Brad isn’t claiming to be a Blue Dog, is he?
With Ilya, what you see is what you get. He doesn’t just talk the talk, he also walks the walk.
I believe that if Brad were selling himself as the “most Moderate of the 4 Dems running,” Ilya would not have “attacked” Brad on his history of donations.
Peace.
Ellen Beth Gill
5:03 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
So funny that people seem to think that's anywhere near enough.
Debbie
8:09 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
Ilya wasn't attacking Brad. Just stating the facts that he is not the true progressive he says he is. Brad has a history of supporting republican candidates. I will vote for Ilya because of his values and honesty about what he stands for and is the true progressive candidate. Ilya is my choice for Congress in the 10th!!!
Daniel
8:16 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
Stating the facts would be saying "Brad donated to these Republicans, but also donated over 90% of his money to Democrats." By only showing part of the picture he intends to mislead voters into thinking Brad is a Republican when he clearly donated to those candidates in the context of Israel. A more truthful statement would be to say that Brad is a comparatively more moderate of a Democrat than Ilya, pointing out that almost all of Brad's donations are to Democrats. Only bringing up some of the facts with the intention of misleading is the definition of an attack and everyone who sees this mailer will know it.
flower child
10:31 am on Friday, March 2, 2012
Will you quit already with the “misleading” accusation, Daniel!
Brad Schneider is **misleading** every Dem-leaning household in the District when he sends out flier after flier claiming to be a “life-long Progressive”
Earon Davis
1:21 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Daniel, I would guess that Brad didn't intend on running for Congress when he donated money to right-wing Republicans just because they support Israel's current policies towards the Palestinians. He probably didn't intend on running for Congress when he voted in a Republican primary. So, if Brad is 90% Democrat, that's fine, but that does not qualify him to serve as a Progressive Democrat in Congress.
We don't have a "machine" here in the 10th District. There are real people you are asking to volunteer their time, energy, hopes and dreams in fighting for our candidates. Some of them resent Brad's helping Republicans, and pretending to be a progressive democrat now. I think this is Ilya Sheyman's time. He is as inspirational and decisive as Brad is moderate and Republican-friendly. We need leaders in Congress - bold leaders who are willing to work with Republicans from strength and vision, not from "big money and business" as usual.
C. Kraines
10:00 am on Friday, March 2, 2012
Brad Schneider has supported conservative Republicans like Mike Johanns over one issue. He must then accept that they also support religion as science, an unfair tax system, and now, restricting contraceptive coverage. That's a tough trade off. While Mark Kirk is more moderate, he votes with his party most of the time - including the Schaivo debacle. Brad didn't support Seals over Dold - the man he now wants to run against - so it's important for voters to know, in making their choice.
It is not Ilya's job to explain Brad's entire voting record; he only highlights areas where they disagree. And I did hear Brad attack Ilya (at the 10th Dems forum) on taking a political contribution from a group whose views on the Gaza flotilla they both disagree with. I support Ilya because he has a clear record of working for core Democratic values and for the public good. His depth of knowledge on the issues and outstanding debating skills will make him a formidable candidate against Dold.
James Franks
1:28 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
The truth can hurt, especially if you are a liar, which BS is when he claims to be a lifelong progressive. BS is a lifelong progressive only if he was born last Labor Day.
Alan Brown
4:17 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
Ilya Sheman is confused. He thinks he is running in the 9thCD. He will get zero Republican votes in the 10th CD and will lose lots of independent and moderate Democratic votes. When is the last time being a a Progressive helped anyone win a congressional seat. Look at 2010 in Illinois, anywhere.
flower child
5:30 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
Don’t think Sheyman is counting on too many Republican votes. But the new 10th district is a lot less Republican than the old one was.
As for Independents:
Have you heard Ilya speak and/or debate?
His fervor is infectious! His command of the issues? Exceptional.
Hearing Ilya speak about causes he will fight for (and they are the right causes for this day and age), one can’t help but feel stirred to join him and take action too.
He has focus, he has passion, he has acumen.
Those 3 attributes (to say nothing of his stellar debate abilities) will help Ilya win wide margins of (“Independent”) supporters in the general election.
Peace.
Jon Hall
11:16 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
I am an independent, and I agree. It was readily evident at the two campaign forums held last weekend. Sheyman is a much better prepared candidate and manager of his campaign than Schneider.
Earon Davis
1:01 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
Alan, I think that 2012 is a different election, a different district and different issues than 2010. And, we have a real chance to send a true progressive willing to fight for reform of our election financing, financial regulation, universal health care, and restraints on absolute corporate power. Do we want to work for change or just get any old democrat elected and hope they won't become a blue dog preventing real change? Besides, why does Schneider claim to be a "Progressive" if he isn't?
Alan Brown
4:18 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
sorry about the typo in Sheyman, no offense intended.
Jon Hall
8:26 am on Sunday, March 4, 2012
Money don't buy you love, and junk mail goes unread to the trash. It is now 2 weeks until the primary, and Brad lists 3 events on his web site's appearance calendar. Sheyman lists 8. I appreciate candidates who are adept at executing "fundamentals", work hard, and hustle. The invisible Brad leaves no impression. Pay attention folks because a dem dolt won't defeat an incumbent DOLT in the general!
nsmom
2:53 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2012
First, the negative ads did not come from the Sheyman campaign. Second, if you attended events for both candidates and heard both speak for the last 6-8 months, as I have, you'd know that the Schneider folks have been much more negative and more misleading. If you want to talk about damaging the party, it's more damaging (and pure conjecture/opinion) to say that Ilya can't win than to talk about the actual fact that Brad has contributed to right-wing Republicans. To call someone a moderate (which is what Brad is -why can't he just admit it?) is not necessarily harmful in a general election, but to call someone unelectable is. So who's the more destructive, damaging candidate here? Lastly, it's pretty clear most of the pro-Schneider posts are written by campaign workers.
Earon Davis
5:19 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2012
nsmom makes a good point, I think. Why is Brad the only candidate who can defeat Bob Dold? Is something WRONG with the other candidates? Is it that they aren't as Progressive as Brad? Certainly not! Or, is it that Brad wouldn't support Ilya or John or Vivek? Is that progressive values, or fear-mongering and negative campaigning under the guise of self-congratulatory punditry?
Why not stick to the issues instead of the drumbeat of "only brad can win?" We can see who has built a better campaign organization, and who always shows up at important campaign events. We can see who knows the issues inside-out. The voters in this district want a progressive voice in Congress, not another moderate voice in Congress. Been there; done that.
Ilya has national support from progressives who see the 10th District as a key national election. Moderate democrats are not so engaged. They want to be free to help support Republicans and often see the plight of the middle class and working class as inevitable. But Ilya has not attacked Brad as being unable to beat Bob Dold. He just pointed out some activities inconsistent with being a Progressive Democrat.