Evans fundraising surpasses rivals

From the Times:

U.S. Rep. Lane Evans, D-Ill., raised far more money between July and September than his Republican rivals, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission, or FEC.

Evans raised $239,962 during the 3rd quarter, nearly three times what he took in during the 2nd quarter of this year. The Rock Island congressman, who will seek a 13th term next year, reported $178,503 in the bank at the end of September. That is more than twice what he had at the end of June.

Evans also began to make payments on a $185,000 fine he agreed in June to pay in order to settle FEC allegations that he violated election law during the 1998 and 2000 campaigns. Evans, who did not admit to the allegations, agreed to pay the fine over nine months. The first installments totaled $80,000, leaving him with $105,000 left to pay.

The payments amounted to more than half the $141,816 Evans reported spending during the quarter.

Meanwhile, Jim Mowen, a Rock Island real estate broker and developer, reported raising $30,616 during the three-month period, making him the top fundraiser of the three Republicans who have said they want the job.

Mowen spent $10,564 and ended the period with $43,881 in the bank, according to the report. So far, he has raised $67,451.

Andrea Zinga, the party’s 2004 nominee who announced last week that she would run again, reported raising $2,645 and spending $4,810 for the quarter. She ended the period with $1,697 in the bank and $55,909 in debt.

Thus far in the campaign cycle, Zinga has raised $32,056.

Brian Gilliland, an Aledo man who has said he also will run, did not file a financial disclosure report, according to the FEC Web site.