BY MIKE CETERA
The Federal Election Commission has fined Aurora dairy magnate Jim Oberweis $21,000 for using his ice cream company to promote himself during his failed 2004 U.S. Senate bid, the Trib's Rick Pearson reports.
Some Democrats also had complained of Oberweis "illegally using his company's corporate treasury funds to influence his election."
OK. So the fine isn't all that interesting. $21,000? Please. But the timing is delicious. Just as Oberweis is considering a run for Hastert's seat (assuming the former House speaker steps down) I see Oberweis again popping up on TV ads for his ice cream shops. Does this set him up to get slapped again? This guy's timing is impeccable.
But wait, there's more.
Pearson (disclosure: I interned for him a number of years ago) also reported the FEC rejected a complaint:
"(S)tate Sen. Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora) may have violated federal campaign financing law by using his state campaign to fund a poll in November 2005 that explored a potential candidacy for Congress in the seat now held by former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Plano.
Like, what a surprise!!! What has this man EVER done in the way of public service??
What public office has this man ever held?
Jim Oberweis is a loser, but was born with an icecream spoon in his mouth.
The worst part is he does represent the conservative Illinois Republicans- get a cleaning service to hire illegal aliens to clean your stores.
Use your inherited wealth to feed your ego.
Nice family value guy too !! Another divorced preacher of morality!
I remember some years ago when he was running for office and his dairy phoned, asking if I wanted to have home delivery. I wondered at the time if that was legal (to use whatever write-off is given for advertising to put your name before the public). I haven't trusted him since.
I know Mr. Oberweis, and although I disagree with him politically I admire his business acumen. He has maintained & improved his family dairy business. The ice cream & milk are excellent quality and fairly priced, and his company seems to treat their cows humanely. Yes, he's divorced (and remarried to a lovely woman not much younger than himself, who has raised children of her own)--but I've seen him with his children & grandchildren and would definitely consider him a loving family man.
I hope that he decides to concentrate on running his dairy business, where he is a respected member of the community. I might not vote for the guy, but I'll definitely keep buying his product!