Mark IV Realty

Mark IV Realty is a Chicago-based retail development firm.  Projects include Marina City, Riverfront Plaza, and the Barclay and Knickerbocker Hotels.  John L. Marks is the founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board; George J. Marks is President of the firm.

The great bulk of their political giving has been in-kind donations of billboards along the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago. Recipients include the campaigns of Alex Giannoulias, Rod Blagojevich, and Paul Vallas.

In 2004, Governor Blagojevich awarded Mark IV Realty with an exclusive, no-bid advertising contract for the Illinois State Lottery, worth $1.8 million. Mark IV Realty donated $90,000 worth of billboard advertising to Rod Blagojevich during his first gubernatorial campaign.

Since 1994, Mark IV Realty has given $422,810 to Illinois candidates, both Democrat and Republican. John Marks has made personal contributions of $161,198 over that same time. The majority of these contributions have been in the form of billboard advertisements.

Last revised June 2011.