Posted by Rick Pearson at 7:56 p.m.
Former state Republican chairman Andy McKenna has now poured more than $2 million in family money into his Republican governor bid, campaign disclosure documents show.
McKenna has now put $2.075 million in cash into his campaign through loans made by his wife, Mary, during January. The latest was a $365,000 loan dated Tuesday. The personal funds represent the bulk of the nearly $3 million that McKenna has reported in donations since the first of the year.
Through the family money, McKenna, the president of Schwarz Supply Source, is far and away the largest cash recipient among Republicans this month, state records show. Next on the list is state Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, with $707,388 in receipts since Jan. 1.
McKenna’s rivals contend McKenna is trying to buy the nomination and avoid debating them. McKenna’s campaign has said the candidate appeared at earlier forums and had scheduling conflicts that prevented him from appearing at recent debates.
Spending a few million dollars for public office is nothing new for McKenna. He put $2.4 million in personal funds into a failed 2004 bid for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination.