The Republican candidate hoping to succeed state Rep. Bill Black in the Illinois House has filed an impressive first-ever campaign disclosure statement sure to grab the attention of Springfield interest groups and potential backers of his likely Democratic opponent.

Chad Hays, who is unopposed in next month's primary election in the 104th House District that includes almost all of Vermilion County and the eastern half of Champaign County (but not Champaign-Urbana), reported that he raised $49,865 in the four months since he announced his candidacy in early September.

"I hope it represents that we'll be running a professional, organized and assertive campaign," said Hays, a Danville hospital executive and the former mayor of Catlin. "That's what we set out to do."

As a way of comparison, Mike Frerichs – then a Democratic candidate for the open 52nd Senate District seat – reported raising $28,700 on Dec. 31, 2005, in advance of the November 2006 general election. His Republican opponent, Judy Myers, reported collecting $60,247. But Myers, while not an incumbent, had been a state senator and had well-established connections with local and Springfield interest groups.

"I am told that we're off to an outstanding start for a new candidate, particularly in an uncontested primary," Hays said. "I'm grateful to the donors and our other volunteers."

Nearly all of Hays' campaign contributions are from individuals and businesses in Vermilion County. His biggest backer is Danville businessman Lou Mervis, who gave a $250 personal contribution, plus $5,000 from Mervis Industries Inc. and another $5,000 through Merlan Inc. Mervis is a longtime supporter of Black, Myers and many other Republicans, although he on occasion has given to Democrats as well. Hays and his wife Ruth gave $5,000 to his campaign. Black gave him $500.

Only two of Hays' $37,520 in itemized contributions – a total of $750 – came from outside Vermilion County.

Hays' likely Democratic opponent, Danville Alderman Michael Puhr, said he's not worried about his opponent's big start.

"That's fine. I'm laying low. I don't have any signs out yet. This is a primary and there's no opposition," he said. "I haven't even solicited money. I just now have my Web site up. I keep thinking, the election is 11 months away."

Puhr, who has not yet filed a semiannual disclosure report (they're not due until Jan. 20), said he raised $6,000 last weekend and noted he has received a $4,035 contribution from Lori DeYoung (who ran for the seat two years ago), a $2,000 personal contribution and another $2,000 from a friend.

"Me being the poor little underdog guy here, I don't have any big money people backing me," Puhr said. "I hope that people vote for the person and not just the party. I hope they vote based on experience and not based on people who are backing you."

Ducking debates

Two of the presumed frontrunners for the Republican nomination for governor – Andy McKenna and Jim Ryan – won't be participating in a televised debate at 8 p.m. Thursday on WILL-TV in Urbana. The other five contenders – Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, Bob Schillerstrom, Dan Proft and Adam Andrzejewski – say they'll be there.

It's hard to dispute the notion that McKenna and Ryan are sitting on a presumed advantage (public, independent polling so far has been inconclusive). Both of them (as well as Schillerstrom and Proft) missed an Illinois Forum debate in Champaign last Sunday. And McKenna skipped a debate with the other six Monday morning in Chicago.

But both are expected at a Chicago television debate tonight.

Ryan spokesman Dan Curry said his boss simply doesn't have the time to attend an estimated 20 or so debates.

"You just can't do 20 debates," Curry said. "This is not a slight to the organizers of the debates. We're not ducking them, but he's got other things he has to do: meet with groups, meet with newspaper editorial boards, call campaign contributors, hold staff meetings."

By Feb. 2, Ryan will have attended "seven or eight" debates, Curry said, including a Jan. 20 session in Champaign sponsored by the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business, and a Jan. 26 debate on WTTW-TV in Chicago.

McKenna, according to spokesman Lance Trover, had a scheduling conflict and is unable to make the WILL debate.

But, he said, McKenna has done several debates already and intends to do more, including a Jan. 17 session in Kane County and the Jan. 20 Champaign debate.

"Andy continues traveling the state telling voters about his plan to solve our budget crisis without a tax increase," Trover said. "He has debated and will continue to participate in debates as Election Day nears."

Tom Kacich is a News-Gazette editor and columnist. His column appears on Wednesdays and Sundays. He can be reached at 351-5221 or at kacich<@>news-gazette.com.