Progress Illinois

The Vote Yes on the Con-Con Coalition -- made up of religious figures, school funding activists, and property tax reformers -- released an ad on Thursday in the hopes of drawing some last-minute support for the proposed 2010 constitutional convention. The spot is set to play on five major Chicago-area networks through Monday evening:

Determined not to be outdone by the Alliance to Protect the Constitution -- which has a an ad on the airwaves featuring Con-Con foe and former GOP Gov. Jim Edgar --  the Vote Yes coalition raised $100,000 to run their own spot during the region's most popular evening newscasts. So far, four networks are airing the segment. The local ABC affiliate put it on hold, however, until the group agreed to remove the word "corrupt," which initially ran alongside an image of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

So where did the money come from?  Over the past month, Cook County Assessor James Houlihan has transferred over $60,000 to the Vote Yes coalition. Property tax reform advocates -- including the group's chair Andrea Ralia and her husband -- have the second largest financial stake, according to campaign disclosure statements.

"We're frustrated," Ralia said when asked why she kicked in her own money. "We're citizen activists. We're the ones that get on the bus and go downstate and rally for changes in the school funding system."