Romanik adds another $1 million to campaign war chest

Controversial radio show host and Republican candidate for state representative Bob Romanik has put a second $1 million in his campaign fund that he says is available to “fight corruption anywhere.”

Romanik, whose often rowdy and occasionally obscene radio show routinely lampoons high-ranking St. Clair Democrats, has a total of $2.1 million filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections compared to his opponent’s approximately $3,000. LaToya Greenwood, a member of the East St. Louis City Council, is running as a Democrat. She could not be reached for comment.

Romanik’s campaign war chest is mostly in the form of loans he made to his committee, which allows him to recoup any unused funds. He has made two loans of $1 million apiece to his campaign, the more recent of which was made Friday.

“It’s in there so that it can be used to fight the culture of corruption,” he said, referring to the St. Clair County Democratic Party, “and corruption anywhere.” Romanik has criticized incumbent county Democrats on subjects ranging from how county judges are selected to the county’s recent failed attempt to get the federal National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency headquarters to locate at Scott Air Force Base.

Belleville attorney and county Democratic leader Bob Sprague could not be reached for comment. The county Democrats were scheduled to have their annual political meeting Wednesday night at Bel-Air Bowl in Belleville.

Romanik said he is considering placing $3 million in a so-called federal Super Pac, or political action committee, which could allow him to pay for activities in support of national candidates, including those running for the presidency. He declined to comment on who he would support for president.

State election records show that so far Romanik has contributed $49,500 to locate candidates, including several in East St. Louis, traditionally the vote-getting stronghold of county Democrats. About $40,000 went to an organization called “New Vision Democrats of East St. Louis,” which is headed by East St. Louis Township Supervisor Oliver Hamilton and East St. Louis City Councilman Bob Eastern.

This story was originally published April 13, 2016 at 2:02 PM with the headline "Romanik adds another $1 million to campaign war chest."