Jonathan Callaway seems to be really interested in the Normal Town Council race because he’s given the maximum amount to two candidates.
In Illinois, there are campaign contribution laws where you can only give a certain amount. To an individual you can give $6,000. A candidate/public official or their immediate family members (spouse, parent or child)can make unlimited contributions to that public official or candidate’s political committee.
Callaway is Andrew Byars boss and works for Recall Strategies, a Chicago/Washing DC lobbying firm. Callaway has contributed money to Democrat Cook County Chair who ran for Chicago mayor and Jay Inslee, the Democrat governor of Washington state.
According to campaign finance documents, Kathleen Lorenz has received $6,000 from Callaway and Callaway is the Top Donor of Byars’.
Upon FOIA request, Cities found Andrew Byars to not be compliant with his Ethics Compliance training until March 6, 2023.
In an email on March 6 2023, this writer asked Andrew Byars, Normal Town council candidate and current Normal Planning commissioner, to answer a few questions about the compliance training ans why the Secretary of State was reporting he was not in compliance. This writer was met with letters from Byars’ Chicago-based attorneys who said, “If you do publish a statement indicating that Recall was lobbying in violation of the Act, Recall can and will defend its rights to the fullest extent allowed under law…”
In the letter, attorneys asked this writer to stop contact with Byars and only reach out to Fielden Fleming, the attorney of Lorde and Locke.
“Please address all future correspondence regarding Recall or this matter to my attention,” states the letter.
We have called Fleming and have emailed several times with questions about Byars’ lobbying activities and have only received silence.
“We have received your email correspondence and questions and will be in touch after review and consideration,” states the original email Fleming sent when originally asked:
- 1. Was Byars employed as a lobbyist by Recall Strategies between 1/1/23-3/7/23?
- 2. Did Byars participate in any activities that are considered lobbying by the Illinois Lobbyist Registration Act during this period?
- 3. Will Recall Strategies and/or their clients benefit from Byars being elected trustee in Normal, IL?
In a March 6, 2023 email to the State from Byars about 10 a.m., an hour after this writer asked Byars questions about his compliance with the Secretary of State, Byars urgently wrote: “Can’t file annual ethics reform and it says I am not compliant, Please call me ASAP.”
About 5 hours later, the State confirmed that their records show he completed his training.
“Our records indicate that you have completed all of your training now,” states an email sent from the State.
According to state law, Lobbyists must complete ethics training provided by the Secretary of State’s office each calendar year. The training will encompass appropriate information about the law’s requirements, responsibilities and opportunities. It is unclear at this time if Byars was lobbying actively during the time he had not completed his ethics training.
Byars was reminded to complete his training several times via email by the State and it appears Byars made one attempt to become compliant. This attempt was made on Jan 16, 2023 when he asked the State to help him find where to complete the training. He was met with several January emails from the State with step-by-step instructions on how to complete the training.
