By Brett Chase and Patrick Rehkamp
SUN, 06/01/2014 – 1:14PM
BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
Eli Broad and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti in March. | Getty Images
Out-of-state billionaires and education-related not-for-profits funded by the mega-rich have taken a big interest in a couple of statehouse races — a further sign that school reform is a critical issue in Illinois.
Billionaire Eli Broad, already a political backer of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, donated $15,000 to Gov. Pat Quinn in March, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.
The Los Angeles philanthropist “supports Gov. Quinn because Illinois, and specifically Chicago, needs pension reform and education reform,” a Broad spokeswoman said.
Broad, whose foundation promotes charter schools among other ideas for upending public education, also gave $10,000 to state Rep. Christian Mitchell (D-Chicago) ahead of his March primary. Mitchell narrowly won over teacher union-backed challenger Jay Travis.
Another billionaire-turned-school reformer, Laurene Powell Jobs (the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs), also donated $10,000 to Mitchell, campaign records show.