SPRINGFIELD | New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann is winning the money race in the three-way battle for the Republican nomination in the 11th Congressional District.
Baldermann is expected to report raising more than $102,000 in the five-month period leading up to the Feb. 5 primary.
With less than two weeks before voters in the district go to the polls, a campaign aide said Baldermann had just under $50,000 on hand in his campaign account
That compares to $56,245 raised by fellow Republican Jimmy Lee, of North Utica, and less than $1,000 raised by Terry Heenan, of New Lenox.
The three are running to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller, of Morris. The 11th District stretches from Chicago's south suburbs to the Bloomington-Normal area.
"We feel very good about our ability to win," Baldermann spokesman Andy Seres said.
The winner of the Feb. 5 race will face Democrat Debbie Halvorson, of Crete, and Green Party candidate Jason Wallace, of Normal, in November.
Halvorson, the Illinois Senate majority leader, has already secured a steady stream of funding from the national Democratic Party, which wants to pick up the seat.
A campaign aide said Halvorson has raised about $427,000 and had $392,000 left to spend as of Jan. 16.
Seres said Republicans want to retain the district, which is among three congressional positions up for grabs in Illinois this year.
According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Baldermann has received contributions from a number of Chicago-area businessmen, including Ron Gidwitz, an unsuccessful candidate for governor in 2006.
Lee, who has held various positions in state and federal government, reported having $5,156 on hand as of Thursday's reporting date.
Heenan, an out-of-work airline pilot, didn't file a report because he hasn't raised enough money.
Wallace's report shows he raised $2,527 between August and mid-January, and spent all but $364. He said he expects to be outspent, but hasn't accepted contributions from special interest groups.
-- Kurt Erickson can be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or (217) 789-0865.
