Sangamon Sun

SPRINGFIELD -- The Edgar County Watchdogs is calling for Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino to resign after he pled the Fifth to avoid incriminating himself in an investigation by the Illinois State Board of Elections last week.

Mautino faces mounting pressure from federal investigators, the Illinois State Board of Elections and GOP General Assembly members to explain hundreds and thousands of dollars in questionable spending during his tenure as a Democratic member of the House of Representatives for District 76.

“He should resign immediately, as the people of this state will never trust him as our auditor general knowing he chose to stay silent to avoid self-incrimination on civil matters that could potentially lead to criminal charges,” the Edgar County Watchdogs wrote on its website. “It was revealed several weeks ago that he is cooperating with the U.S. attorney’s criminal investigation. If he does not plead the Fifth with the U.S. attorney, that may imply he is providing information that may point to other political figures' wrongdoing.”

Through his attorney, Tony Jacob, Mautino asked the State Board of Elections to give him more time to respond to the board’s request for information while the federal probe into his campaign finances continues.

Last month, the board gave Mautino a July 1 deadline to amend his campaign reports.

According to WebTimes, the board’s general counsel is recommending that the board grant Mautino’s request, which does not sit well with the watchdog group.

“May I suggest Governor Rauner take any and all possible steps to replace any State Board of Elections member that votes to postpone the case and also push for a replacement legal counsel for that board,” the group wrote. “The reason is simple. If the U.S. attorney wanted those hearings delayed, they would have informed them of such. In addition, for the legal counsel to claim there is no urgency is a slap in the face to every citizen in this state.”

The campaign scandal was first reported by Edgar County Watchdogs in January, three weeks after Mautino started work as auditor general.

The Edgar County Watchdogs is a self-appointed government watchdog group that has called out mayors, board chairmen and state's attorneys since 2010.

The watchdog group exposed the former state representative’s disclosure reports, which revealed extravagant spending -- more than $200,000 -- on gas and vehicle repairs over 11 years to Happy’s Super Service in Spring Valley, which is Mautino’s hometown. Edgar County Watchdogs quantified the exact amount as $213,338.31.

Other questionable expenses in Mautino’s reporting include an additional $30,000 in state travel reimbursements for legislative duties and service on audit commission since 2005 – paid by taxpayers money; $271,417 in state agency payments to family-owned Mautino Distribution Company since 2005, with increased annual payments occurring after Mautino’s promotion into House Speaker Mike Madigan’s leadership team in 2009; $33,000 paid to his wife’s family’s pizza restaurant since 1999; and $273,973 paid to a local bank from his campaign fund.

Also raising eyebrows was more than $200,000 in irregular payments to Spring Valley City Bank. The payments made to Spring Valley City Bank were made in round figures between $100 and $300, with vague purposes listed, e.g. "Chicago meeting," "gas" or "parking," NBC Chicago said.

In addition, Mautino's campaign purchased four vehicles – one of which was for Mautino (although he claimed it was "primarily driven" by a campaign worker) and another for a campaign worker.

State law prohibits politicians and candidates from using campaign money to buy vehicles unless they will be used primarily for campaign or government work, which Mautino says the vehicles were used for.

NBC Chicago also reported that since 2013, Patty Maunu, Mautino's campaign treasurer, received 16 payments totaling $23,800, reportedly for meeting expenses -- although no details were provided on the spending. Interestingly, the reporting suggested that no single vendor received more than $150. An amount over $150 to an individual or entity in a quarterly reporting period would require disclosure of the individual or entity's name and address.

Initially, in response to the scrutiny, Mautino retained public relations consultant Ryan Keith to address questions about his campaign spending.

In January, Keith released a statement referencing Mautino’s “exemplary service to his communities” during his 24 years in the Illinois House.

The auditor general is tasked with auditing the use of the state’s public funds and reports findings, and recommendations to the General Assembly and governor.

Mautino replaced former Auditor General William Holland, who retired last December after 23 years of service. During his tenure, Holland earned a reputation for serving the state in a nonpartisan and precise manner.

Given the fragile financial condition of the state, and that Illinois citizens are struggling to trust elected and appointed officials, the board’s investigation into Mautino “should be dealt with the utmost urgency,” the watchdog group said.

“Short of the U.S. attorney sending a request to delay, the State Board of Elections should hold Frank Mautino’s feet to the fire, on schedule, just like any other person in this state,” the group said.

The board will make a decision on Mautino’s request in its meeting next Monday.