Contributions from firms doing business or having personal ties with the Sheriff's Office or the County of McHenry make up a large percentage of the campaign warchest Sheriff Keith Nygren has piled up over the years, an analysis by the Mike Mahon for Sheriff Campaign shows.

In fact, taken as a lump sum the business contributions coincidentally are about what Nygren has on hand for this year's campaign.

"This is a perfect example of the 'pay to play' syndrome Illinoisans are all too familiar with," said candidate Mike Mahon. "The same vendors who line up at the door for taxpayer-funded contracts stop by the campaign fund pay window on the way in.

"In Illinois, unfortunately, incumbency is the gift that keeps on giving."

Mahon pledged that if elected, he would not accept campaign contributions from any firms doing business with the McHenry County Sheriff's Office or McHenry County in general. This comes on top of his previous pledge not to accept contributions from Sheriff's Office employees. Nor would he accept campaign funds from individuals who serve on the Merit Commission or any other boards or commissions whose members are nominated or appointed by the Sheriff.

Mahon further noted that many major officeholders in Illinois have already moved away from accepting contributions from firms doing businesses with their offices, including Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

A mere 20 firms doing business with the Sheriff's Office have contributed some $133,172.00 to Sheriff Keith Nygren over his years in office, either from the firms themselves or from high-ranking individuals within those firms.

This is slightly more than the $122,944.44 Nygren reported as having on hand in his last report to the State Board of Elections.

The Mike Mahon for Sheriff Campaign compiled public election records to conduct the analysis, which shows a troubling reliance on publicly paid vendors who fuel Nygren's political campaign engine.

The vendors ranged from attorneys handling labor and Merit Commission issues, to a psychologist working in the McHenry County Jail, to companies that supply automotive services; badges and uniforms; and even decals and striping for marked Sheriff's vehicles.

The largest single contributor was the R.I.T.A. Corporation, which while not doing business with the County, has as its President Brian Goode, a member of the Sheriff's Merit Commission. R.I.T.A. has dumped $57,540 into Nygren's campaign coffers since 1997.

The next highest total was contributed by Cabay & Company of McHenry, which provides toiletries and sundries to the County Courthouse. The firm, combined with Jason, Scott and Kenneth Cabay personally, has contributed $17,895 to the Nygren campaign fund since 1998.

Below is a list of the firms included, the number of contributions over the years and their cumulative total. The list is by no means exhaustive, but represents the highest dollar contributors who could be identified.

R.I.T.A. Corporation                              15                                                        $57,540

Cabay & Company plus Jason Cabay         21                                                        $17,895

Lang Chevrolet plus Gary Lang                 15                                                          $8,460

Jake the Striper                                      8                                                          $1,777

Ottosen Law Firm                                  11                                                          $6,590

Remke Grp. plus Tony & Amy Remke        23                                                          $8,880

Smitty Auto Body                                    2                                                             $400

Susan Connor                                         4                                                             $835

Pettibone                                              18                                                          $3,540

Stan's Office                                          12                                                          $6,130

Fechheimer aka Flying Cross                       9                                                          $2,800

Dr. Robert L. Meyer                                  6                                                          $3,360

Radicom                                               18                                                           $9,485

Claudon, Kost law firm                               5                                                           $1,270

Legat Architects                                       2                                                              $510

Mineola Marine                                         3                                                              $630

Zukowski, Rodgers law firm                         5                                                              $820

Worldwide Traveler                                    4                                                           $1,180

Harrison law offices                                   2                                                              $770

R&D auto                                                1                                                             $300

For more information contact the Mike Mahon for Sheriff Campaign at 847.515.4772.