U.S. Senate candidate BLAIR HULL, who rails against special interests influencing government, recommended his ex-wife to Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH for her $80,000-a-year job heading the Illinois Film Office.

And while nobody calls this a payback, Blagojevich literally owes Hull. According to the governor's latest campaign finance report, as of Dec. 31, his campaign hadn't paid back $200,000 that Hull had loaned in 2002. And that's in addition to more than $250,000 in cash or services Hull donated to Blagojevich. Some of the services included campaign rides on private or chartered planes and payments for staff and postage.

After divorcing his wife of 29 years in 1994, Hull married real estate broker BRENDA SEXTON in 1995. They divorced in 1996, but married again in early 1997 (after he proposed via a billboard in Chicago). They divorced again in early 1998.

They remain friends, though there were some bumps along the way. The Chicago Tribune first reported that as their second marriage deteriorated in 1998, Sexton filed an order of protection against Hull.

Hull was engaged to another woman last year, the newspaper said.

Hull's campaign did not comment on the order of protection for several days last week, other than to say the second divorce was contentious at times. But after growing publicity in Chicago, Hull's campaign released statements from him and his ex-wife.

"In February 1998, as our second marriage was ending, we had an argument and Brenda called police," Hull's statement says. "The police report from that night says that I hit her shin. I would never intentionally harm Brenda, and I regret the incident. The state's attorney dismissed the case and the order of protection she obtained."

"The next day," the statement continued, "Brenda's divorce lawyers filed a new case before a different judge, without telling me or my lawyers, and obtained an ex parte order of protection against me. Two days later, we agreed to mediate, and we reached a final settlement. The second order of protection expired under its own terms, and I never had the opportunity to address it."

Hull added that it was a tough period for he and Sexton. "We both said painful things to each other that I am sure we both wish we could take back. I regret those months, and that night in particular, as well as the legal posturing that resulted. Most importantly, Brenda and I are now friends. She and her family remain close to my family."

Sexton's statement similarly says there was an argument, she called police, and she and Hull are now "good friends." She says she supports his candidacy and believes he would "make a very good United States senator." She says she hopes the public and press will appreciate her right "not to discuss this topic any further."

Sexton, 49, of Chicago, was named to her state job last spring. She did not return a telephone message.

"Brenda Sexton was recommended to the governor by Mr. Hull," said REBECCA RAUSCH, spokeswoman for Blagojevich. "We interviewed her as we interviewed others - we cannot disclose who all, out of respect for them." Blagojevich thinks Sexton is doing an excellent job and "has no regrets about hiring her," Rausch said.

Hull has said he could spend $40 million of his own to win the Senate seat, which would far exceed total spending of any statewide candidates in Illinois history. His Hull Trading Co. provided an automated way for investors to trade in options and grew to operate on 26 exchanges in nine countries. It was sold to Goldman Sachs in 1999 for $531 million. Hull owned about 65 percent of the company at the time.

Hull advertises that he fought the status quo with his method of trading. Those ads don't mention that his firm also had to pay more than $560,000 in fines.

The biggest, a $500,000 fine issued by what was then called the National Association of Securities Dealers (it's now known as just "NASD"), was consented to by Hull Trading Co. in 1996. Hull spokesman JIM O'CONNOR said that, over a period of two months in 1994, an inexperienced Hull trading clerk executed 385 trades using a system designed for small investors, not professional trading companies such as Hull's. Hull trading companies at the time averaged 30,000 trades a day.

According to the NASD, Hull companies and traders also paid seven other trading-related fines - for violations including exceeding limits - from 1993-98. Those fines ranged from $2,500 to $20,000. The total paid was more than $60,000.

Another Hull spokesman, JASON ERKES, characterized those situations as "common errors and penalties that any financial trading company would incur."

The New York City clerk's office also shows tax liens, now paid, of $18,031 against M. Blair Hull Inc. and $17,281 against Hull Trading Co. Erkes said the liens resulted from a dispute over whether payments were to be made to Illinois or New York.

Hull has so far put about $24 million of his own money into his campaign fund. He doesn't take political action committee money and limits individuals to $100 contributions.

Erkes wouldn't say how much has been spent to date, other than pointing to a report for the period ending Dec. 31, which showed spending of more than $11 million.

Hull didn't vote in the 2000 election, but he has showered campaign contributions on many political committees in recent years leading up to his first-time candidacy. He gave $1,500 to Blagojevich's father-in-law, Chicago Ald. DICK MELL; $2,000 to Springfield Mayor TIM DAVLIN; $65,000 to Lt. Gov. PAT QUINN; $1,000 to JULIE CURRY (now a deputy chief of staff to Blagojevich); $5,000 to Rock Island Democrats (whose leader is the governor's personnel chief); $500 to Sangamon County Democrats; $11,000 to the 17th Congressional District Democratic Victory Fund; $1,000 to state Rep. JAY HOFFMAN, a close ally of the governor; and $5,000 to JOYCE WASHINGTON and $1,000 to DAN HYNES - both now running against Hull for the Senate.

And less than a month before the gubernatorial election of 1998, Hull gave $1,000 to the Republican incumbent, GEORGE RYAN, who defeated Democrat GLENN POSHARD.

'Civies' honor to LaHood

U.S. Rep. RAY LAHOOD, R-Peoria, was among recipients recently of a small group's "Civies" awards for promoting civil behavior.

Americans for More Civility was founded by two writers, ALAN GIBSON of Jasper, Ga., and GLENN DROMGOOLE of Abilene, Texas.

LaHood and Rep. CHARLES STENHOLM, D-Texas, were hosts of a 2003 bipartisan retreat in West Virginia for U.S. House members. LaHood has been an organizer of four such events designed to promote a better working relationship among House members. About 200 members attended the 2003 event.

Condolences

The political landscape in Illinois changed abruptly and tragically with the death Wednesday of Chicago Sun-Times columnist STEVE NEAL at his Hinsdale home. He was 54.

Neal's columns were sometimes laudatory, sometimes highly critical, and it was usually quite clear which impression he intended to leave. His prominent place in his newspaper allowed him to put issues or candidates on the radar screen in his city and state.

A former writer for the Chicago Tribune as well, he wrote books about presidents and argued strongly that politics must be kept out of the new ABRAHAM LINCOLN Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.

"He was an encyclopedia of knowledge on politics, but his interests varied greatly including literature, music, sports, movies and the theater," said Secretary of State JESSE WHITE. "Chicago has lost an important voice, and I have lost a dear friend."

"We take comfort in knowing that through his writings, Steve will always be with us," said state Treasurer JUDY BAAR TOPINKA. "Whether you agreed or disagreed with what he wrote, his columns were always insightful. He had an understanding of Illinois politics such as no one else had in this state."

Condolences to his friends and family.