“Pay to play” refers to the link between political contributions and political favors. Demanding a donation or favor to award a project or approval is illegal. However, requesting a donation while discussing a project or action is not illegal but certainly unethical. It may be perceived as expected, and the business may be afraid not to donate.
Sam Cunningham collected $376,659 during his four years as mayor. Many of Cunningham’s donations were from companies doing business with the City or seeking approval for projects. Some are during the bidding and approval process.
$22,000 was donated by towing companies competing for business with the City.
$4,000 was donated by Peter Baker & Sons.
$1,500 donated 7/2/2018. Sealed bids were opened 7/9/2018. Awarded $3,475,203.05 contract.
$2,500 donated 7/12/2019. Sealed bids were opened 7/26/2019. Awarded $6,079,860.00 contract.
$5,000 from Lake Behavioral Hospital
$2,500 was donated on 7/31/2018 by Richard Kresch, CEO of US HealthVest LLC, owner of Lake Behavioral. A conditional use permit was submitted before the donation on 7/18/2018 and approved after the donation on 10/1/2018.
$2,500 donated 7/12/2019.
$1,000 from Taqueria Guadalajara
$1,000 was donated on 7/7/2018. Their application for a gaming license was approved on 8/30/2018 with a variance to our ordinance that they must be 1,500 feet from any other enterprise with a City gaming license.
A list of other donors doing business with the City includes:
Daniels, Long & Pinsel
Del Gado Law Group LLC
Campanella & Son, Inc.
Advanced Disposal
Infrastructure Engineering
Baxter & Woodman
The Owens Group
Advanced Disposal
Ciorba Group
Cunningham also solicited donations from many of our struggling small businesses.
Proof of Sam Cunningham's Donations
During my term as mayor, I have not taken any money from a city contractor or vendor nor from any Waukegan business. Further, none of these businesses offered a donation, and I have not solicited any. That means that Cunningham actively solicited their donations, including those above.
I do not take private meetings with businesses, including developers. When a meeting is requested, the purpose must be stated, and I include the appropriate City staff to address the issues at hand. There are no backroom deals.
One of Cunningham’s strategies is to make me look as bad as him. The Lake County Dispatch, described by a reviewer as “a paid political hit site,” ran an article accusing me of Pay to Play.
It cites two donations from a donor totaling $1,500 and that I appointed him to the Waukegan Library Board. All true, but it failed to mention that being a member of the Waukegan Library Board is an unpaid volunteer position that involves donating many hours of hard work. Donate money, then donate time. Where is the play? We have unfilled board positions for qualified individuals willing to volunteer their time to the City of Waukegan.
Before Cunningham’s term as mayor, we had a national award-winning library. During Cunningham’s term, it deteriorated into chaos with a video of one board member calling a Cunningham appointee a “political whore.” I replaced much of the board and am fixing another of Cunningham’s messes. Waukeganites are fortunate to have a CEO of one of our local financial institutions volunteer his time to help fix the library. Kudos to him, and shame on those disparaging our outstanding citizens for political gain.
For further information, go to AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/PayToPlay.