Kane County Reporter

Embattled Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino failed to provide answers to state legislators' questions for the fourth time earlier this month.

 

Lawmakers have scrutinized Mautino since January, when it was revealed that federal investigators had launched a probe into questionable campaign spending. In addition, the State Elections Board has opened its own investigation into the allegations of improper expenditures.  

 

District 22 State Senate GOP candidate Tracy Smodilla recently weighed in on the news of Mautino's refusal to speak to lawmakers and House Speaker Mike Madigan's (D-Dist. 22) defense of Mautino on public radio station WCBU.

 

“I understand the loyalty that Speaker Madigan has for Auditor General Mautino," Smodilla told the Kane County Reporter.  "However, they must first be committed to public trust and the laws that apply to all. As the auditor general, it is not unreasonable to expect that Mr. Mautino would have his campaign financial house in order. Regrettably, he has breached that trust, previously filed for multiple extensions and is now under investigation."

 

While Madigan said Mautino would be vindicated when the state and federal investigations are complete, on July 20, House Republicans led by Dwight Kay (R-Dist. 112) filed House Joint Resolution 158, calling for his removal from office. Kay has put pressure on Madigan to ensure that the resolution will be taken up when the General Assembly convenes in November. This action was precipitated by Mautino's previous refusal to answer legislators' concerns or to step down until the investigations are completed.

 

State Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Dist. 28) also has asked Mautino to take a leave of absence, indicating that although the requests calling for Mautino's voluntary resignation have originated with the Republican members of the House, it is not a partisan issue. If he fails to respond, she will join other state senators in calling for his removal from office.

 

At issue are expenditures from Mautino's campaign fund. He represented House District 76 from 1991 to October 2015, when he was appointed auditor general. Between 1996 and 2012, Mautino raised more than $2.4 million in campaign funds. Since 1999, he made $259,000 in payments to a local bank and spent approximately $200,000 over a 10-year period on gas and repairs at a Spring Valley service station owned by a local alderman.

 

Mautino's lawyers requested a stay on the Board of Elections inquiry during the federal investigation. The board instead voted 5-3 to continue and gave Mautino two weeks to file amended campaign-finance reports. Mautino failed to submit the amended reports by the July 24 deadline, which triggers a public hearing. 

 

The Board of Elections' next meeting with Mautino and his lawyers is set for Monday at a status hearing in Chicago. The board will set the date for a public hearing on the matter.

"How can we believe that he is capable of the fidelity required to effectively serve the people of Illinois?" Smodilla said. "This isn’t a Republican vs. Democrat game, and his own party is asking him to do the right thing. As such, the right thing for him to do is to step down and concentrate on his defense. If he is incapable of making that rightly decision, the good people of Illinois should further compel their legislators to have him removed. Elected leadership is not just held to a higher standard; it must faithfully demonstrate that it is not above the law.”