Campaign cash: Quincy mayoral candidates top $161,000 in spending for 2025 race

QUINCY — Mike Troup’s campaign spent more than $70,000 in an unsuccessful bid to retain the office of Quincy mayor.

According to the Illinois State Board of Elections website, Troup spent $70,594.08 combined for his victory in the Feb. 25 Republican primary over Dan Brink and his April 1 loss to Linda Moore, who ran as an independent.

Moore, who didn’t run in a primary, spent $61,949.14 in her successful mayoral bid on April 1. Brink spent $30,326.71 in his primary defeat.

Brink now works for Moore as the city’s director of operations, a newly created post as one of two directors who will report to Moore as opposed to just one second-in-command director of administrative services, which had been the case in previous mayoral administrations.

Former Great River Economic Development Foundation president Jim Mentesti was Moore’s largest contributor. He gave $5,000 as well as an in-kind contribution of $1,366 for a fundraiser at Spring Lake Country Club.

Moore gave $5,000 of her own money to her campaign, and Plumbers and Pipefitters Illinois Local 25 also donated $5,000.

Others who contributed at least $1,000 to Moore’s campaign were:

• Leigh MacKenzie: $4,000
• Western Trades: $2,000
• Dr. Jim Daniels: $2,000
• George Meyer: $1,000
• Jack Freiburg: $1,000
• Al Knepler: $1,000
• INA-PAC Nurses Association: $1,000

Moore spent $40,781 during first quarter of 2025, with the bulk of that toward television advertising on WGEM-TV with $17,485. She also spent $5,262 on billboards with Link, $2,921 with Staradio (WTAD), $1,750 with Muddy River News and $1,389 on Facebook advertising, along with other items.

The Adams County Republican Party gave the most to Troup, $10,000, in the party’s effort to keep the seat it had held for the last 12 years. Knapheide Manufacturing also gave $5,000.

Others who contributed at least $1,000 to Troup’s campaign were:

• The Armory: $8,734 for an in-kind contribution for food and hall rental space for a fundraiser.
• Gully Trucking: $1,146 for an in-kind donation of a trailer and sign.
• C. David Nuessen: $2,000 and an in-kind $250 for space rental at a fundraiser.
• Cullinan Properties, owners of the Quincy Town Center: $2,000
• Hotel in Quincy, LLC, owners of the site where the Welcome Inn once stood: $1,000
• Trevor Beck: $1,000
• Harry and Jennifer Ruth: $1,000
• Erin Knapheide: $1,000
• Randall Koch: $1,000

Troup spent $55,759 from his campaign fund during the first quarter of 2025 for both the primary and general elections.

The bulk of Troup’s campaign advertising went to direct mail/door-to-door materials, spending $30,769 with Laser Images of Quincy, and television, primarily with WGEM-TV where he spent $15,625. Troup also spent $2,690 with Staradio (WTAD) and $600 with Muddy River News.

At the end of the reporting period, Troup still had more than $16,000 left in his warchest should he decide to seek office again. He can use those funds to pay off campaign debts or assist other candidates in the future.