Here's Some Money!

Vote for Me!

• Mayoral candidate Willie Wilson apparently did not violate election law by handing out more than $200,000 in cash and checks Sunday to people at an event he attended with Gov. Bruce Rauner at a South Side church, according to the state elections board.
  
  Wilson campaign spokesman Scott Winslow said the millionaire businessman gave the money to people to help them cover the cost of their property taxes and other expenses as part of his long-standing philanthropic work through the Dr. Willie Wilson Foundation, a registered nonprofit. Wilson gave out the money Sunday at an event at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, where he was joined by Rauner.
  
  Speaking at an unrelated event in Wheaton on Monday, the re-election-seeking governor said he was at the church with Wilson to speak at the pastor’s request. Rauner said he gave Wilson, a friend of his, $100,000 last year and another $100,000 “in the last month or two” to help struggling families pay their property taxes but did not approve of Wilson handing out cash at the church.
  
  “I think the idea of handing out cash if you’re a candidate for office is outrageous,” Rauner said. “It should not happen. I learned after the fact and I was pretty upset when I heard it was going on.”

Sure, nothing like giving away money at what turned out to be a campaign event in disguise. We mean, it's not like he was giving away chickens at the polling places after the ward boss made sure you had voted for the correct democratic candidates.

Wilson obviously has to be schooled in the gentle art of the "connected bribe" usually performed via lofty promises, a few unmarked envelopes, a contract steered to certain businesses who then make "voluntary donations" to the Foundation. It's all legit.