Frank Mautino had been in his position as Illinois Auditor General for about a month when questions about use of his campaign funds started surfacing.
According to a report from the Bureau County Republican, questions were arising about whether Mautino spent campaign contributions appropriately, and if they were reported in the right way.
Mautino, who previously served as an Illinois State Representative, was sworn into his position as Auditor General in December of 2015 and took his seat on January 1, 2016, according to the report.
His campaign committee, the “Committee for Frank J. Mautino,” was closed at the end of December 2015, according to a spokesperson from Mautino.
The money that was spent from Mautino’s campaign committee, called the “Committee for Frank J. Mautino,” was in question, reported the Bureau County Republican. Funds that Mautino allegedly received and spent while transitioning into the Auditor General position were also in question.
The Illinois State Board of Elections reported that more than $200,000 was spent at Happy’s Super Service Station in Spring Valley, Illinois over the course of a decade, according to the Bureau County Republican. These expenses were listed as gasoline and campaign vehicle repairs for the campaign committee. Other finances in question included personal loans to Mautino and campaign workers, vehicle insurance, payments to Spring Valley City Bank, travel expenses lodging costs, and more.
Click here to see all the financial reports for the “Committee for Frank J. Mautino” to the Illinois State Board of Elections. The reports date back to 1991, when Mautino stepped into his position as state representative.
In “A Guide to Campaign Disclosure,” the Illinois State Board of Elections published a list of prohibited uses of campaign funds. See below.
Ryan Keith, a spokesperson for Mautino issued the following statement:
“Frank Mautino served his north-central district with distinction in the Illinois House for 24 years, where he held a number of leadership positions, provided exemplary service to his communities and build a record of a number of legislative accomplishments.
“During is legislative career, Frank ran for re-election every two years. His campaign committee, Committee for Frank J. Mautino, fully disclosed and reported all spending by the campaign in compliance with Illinois campaign finance and disclosure laws. His reports fully detail campaign expenditures that were made to help defray the standard, reasonable expenses incurred while Frank performed the governmental and public service duties of serving as state representative of his large, mostly rural district.
“Upon his nomination as Auditor General, Frank’s career in elected office ended and he closed out his campaign committee at the end of December 2015.”
The issue was expected to be addressed by Frank Mautino in the coming days, according to Keith.
