The Harvey World Herald
Politics

Who's funding the Harvey Clerk and Treasurer races? A glimpse at state records.

What state campaign finance data say about these often overlooked races.

Harvey Treasurer and Clerk candidates, from left to right top: Aisha Pickett and David Clay II, Provided by candidates. From left to right, bottom: Joyce V. Brown, Rosa Arambula, Monique Williams; photos retrieved from internet except Williams' photo, which was provided.
Harvey Treasurer and Clerk candidates, from left to right top: Aisha Pickett and David Clay II, Provided by candidates. From left to right, bottom: Joyce V. Brown, Rosa Arambula, Monique Williams; photos retrieved from internet except Williams' photo, which was provided.
author
By Amethyst J. Davis

This report was fact-checked by Olivia Stovicek. Olivia's experience as an editor and fact-checker includes serving as a senior editor at South Side Weekly and as a team leader for City Bureau's Civic Reporting Fellowship in 2021.

Don’t sleep on the Clerk and Treasurer races, this year.

The City Clerk is best known as the recordkeeper, but they do so much more. They’re also a protector of democracy, charged with overseeing the election process locally.

Then there’s the Treasurer, tasked with staying abreast of the city’s financial health.

These seats are both often overlooked—and that’s what state campaign finance data confirm.

Here’s a look at who is—or isn’t—pumping money into these critical Harvey roles.

Office of the City Clerk

Monique Williams

Harvey Public Library Board trustee and Thornton drama coach Monique Williams is the only Clerk candidate who’s filed any financial disclosure documentation with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Williams only has roughly $2,123 in cash on hand for her political campaign, according to recent state records. Once a political committee is on file with the ISBE, it must submit quarterly reports. The Citizens Behind Monique Williams committee has complied with the state’s requirement every quarter since its inception.

The CBMW was created in March of 2019. Albert Abney, who unsuccessfully ran for 2nd Ward alderman in the 2023 primary election, has served as the committee’s treasurer since inception, according to state records.

Funds available coming into Oct. 1, 2022

$172.89

Total raised between Oct. 1, 2022 & Dec. 31, 2022

$240.00

Total spent between Oct. 1, 2022 & Dec. 31, 2022

$117.11

Cash on hand as of Dec. 31, 2022

$122.89

Total raised since January 1, 2023

$2,000.00

Total cash on hand (as reflected in required reporting, so far)

$2,122.89

Note: Campaign finance records from Oct. 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022; Source: Illinois State Board of Elections

Some Clerk candidates haven’t filed

Neither incumbent City Clerk Rosa Arambula, who’s seeking re-election, nor challenger Joyce V. Brown has filed any disclosure reports for their campaigns with the ISBE.

Office of the Treasurer

Aisha Pickett

Incumbent Aisha Pickett filed a statement of organization for People for Aisha Pickett in January. PAP hasn’t filed any reported donations, suggesting she has less than $1,000 in her treasure trove.

According to Pickett’s official campaign Facebook page, her campaign is accepting campaign contributions made via CashApp, Zelle, PayPal, FundHero, and checks payable to People for Aisha Pickett.

David Clay II

The former Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Chris Clark has yet to file any financial reports with the ISBE.

Key takeaways

It’s highly unlikely that any big money is involved in shaping both the Clerk and Treasurer races. These obscure but highly important races don’t involve as much money as mayoral or aldermanic races can.

Without major donors, Clerk and Treasurer candidates have largely resorted to running bootstrap, grassroots campaigns. They’re soliciting donations on social media as opposed to hosting big galas, like Pickett. Others like Clay and Williams have been seen door knocking in the final weeks leading up to the April 4 election.

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author
Amethyst J. Davis@APurple_Reign

Founder

Amethyst J. Davis is responsible for spearheading the growth and development of the HWH, including outlining the editorial trajectory and content. She also produces “The Renaissance Letter,” our biweekly email newsletter, edits content, and fact-checks stories prior to publication Amethyst was an administrator at New York University before launching her journalism career. She is also a member of the Sounding Board, the community advisory board for Chicago Public Media, which includes WBEZ Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times.

In 2022, Amethyst was a Casey Fellow with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Black News & Views, where she covered health and COVID-19 for the NABJ’s newly launched digital news service. She is a sought after speaker on community journalism and has given talks at institutions like DePaul University and the University of Kansas. Amethyst is a regular guest on City Cast Chicago.

She was invited by Harvard University to submit a 2023 Nieman Lab prediction, which taps the smartest in media and journalism nationwide to offer thoughts on the future of digital media. Under her leadership, the HWH has become one of the nation's most-watched hyperlocal newsrooms. The HWH has received national coverage in publications like Poynter, Harvard University's Nieman Lab, the National Press Journalism Club Institute, and Editor & Publisher.

Amethyst is a Brooks Middle School ('11) and Thornton Township High School alum (‘15) and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from NYU (BA'19). She is an alumni of the Data and Policy Summer Scholar program at the University of Chicago.

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