By Illinois News Network
SPRINGFIELD – A recently published report says Illinois’ new Auditor General put out a call for campaign cash just before being sworn into the constitutional office.
The Illinois Times newspaper reports new Auditor General Frank Mautino collected $17,500 in donations during the final quarter of 2015, with the majority coming in between when his nomination was approved by the General Assembly October 20 and when he was sworn in December 7.
Mautino, who served for years as a Democratic Representative for Spring Valley, zeroed out his campaign fund just before being sworn in, according to the report, spending over $21,000 on a variety of things like meeting expenses, gasoline, flowers for funerals of supporters, and money for the Putnam County Democratic Central Committee for a Christmas party.
Susan Garrett, a former Democratic lawmaker and chair of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform says Mautino didn’t break any campaign laws but his interest in raising campaign funds just after being confirmed raises questions. Garrett says soliciting campaign funds during that time frame diminishes the trust and faith taxpayers expect from that office and Mautino should return the contributions and start his tenure with a clean slate. Mautino replaces William Holland who retired at the end of last year.
