Saturday, January 28, 2006
Gidwitz Attacks Topinka for Taking Contributions from Bill Cellini-Connected Bank Used By Treasurer’s Office
In the wake of the first gubernatorial debate, in which Republican underdog Ron Gidwtz did poorly, he has played the "ethics card" on front-running Judy Baar Topinka.
Friday veteran WBBM-TV political reporter Mike Flannery told of Gidwitz’ saying Topinka’s acceptance of money from the Cellini-connected Illinois National Bank is hypocritical.
"I think that the system we have in this state makes a hypocrite out of everybody," Cindy Canary of the Campaign for Political Reform told the CBS station.
Flannery's story said,
Friday veteran WBBM-TV political reporter Mike Flannery told of Gidwitz’ saying Topinka’s acceptance of money from the Cellini-connected Illinois National Bank is hypocritical.
"I think that the system we have in this state makes a hypocrite out of everybody," Cindy Canary of the Campaign for Political Reform told the CBS station.
Flannery's story said,
"I don't have a relationship with Mr. Cellini and have not had," Topinka said.Topinka’s camp said she had not received contributions directly from Cellini and that bank business was put out for bid. Early in her service as State Treasurer, Topinka tried to cut a deal with Cellini's state-subsidized hotel. Then Attorney General Jim Ryan stopped the effort.
But by the time Topinka told us that, she had a tally of $56, 170 of campaign contributions that she'd accepted from the political action committee of a state contractor, Illinois National Bank, which is partly owned by Cellini. Another $56,700 came from officials at the bank, for a total of $112,870. Gubernatorial candidate Ron Gidwitz said he believed this was a problem.
