Andrzejewski: New Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino must step down: Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino said he used the money to pay off debts and shred documents, but disclosures show the loans were already paid off.
Your thoughts and I realize this has been difficult for many of the people who consistently voted Frank into office for many years and his father before that.
30 comments:
Adam Andrzejewski has a outstanding background and serves Illinois as a watchdog with extreme abilities. Considering his background I would believe he would follow legal procedures rather than making a Judge Roy Beam proclamation that Mautino must resign as Illinois Auditor General immediately.
Frank Mautino like every U.S. citizen is innocent until proven guilty. If Mautino has done all of the illegalities Andrejewki has written why has he waited so long to expose him? Is this entire situation a attempt to weaken Michael Madigan and strictly a political party thing. If it is a political party thing it will split the two parties even further than they presently are and the State of Illinois will suffer the most.
Personally I have always found Frank Mautino to be a professional Representative always within a phone call and always willing to lend a helping hand. He did a outstanding job for our locality and will do the same as Illinois Auditor General.
12:10 AM, You are certainly a "good soldier" providing testimony for Frank Maurino. The problem with your comment is that anything that Frank did or dd not do for you or or his district as a representative is absolutely and totally IRRELEVANT to the issue of campaign fund spending "irregularities". I don't care if Frank put a chicken in every pot and a paycheck in every household to use an old-timey political mantra. That's not the point. Now, I know you are doing damage-control either on your own or as a party hack or insider of some sort. That's fine. You are entitled to apologize as you see fit.
What gives you away so easily is your question of the accustaions by the press could be linked to being "a political thing" designed to weaken Madigan and the Democrats. I remind you that it's all political, DUH! But, it's no more or less political than your politically motivated defense of Mautino and your attempt to distract from the seriousness of the allegations of wrongdoing by Frank Mautino. OF COURSE IT'S POLITICS! If Frank withstands the onslaught of calls for him to resign and if Madigan can prevent a legitimate investigation from taking place Mautino will survive. I believe he will survive because Mike Madigan will see to it. After it's all over with and the dust has settled Frank Mautino will be even more endebted and loyal to Madigan than he ever was before if that is even possible. You know damn well it political 12:10 AM. But it's no more political than your comment is. For the record, I like Frank too. In fact, I have been a friend and supporter for many years and I knew and supported his father before him. You ask if it's political? C'mon!
We all knew it was happening. We just didn't pay attention. How many times has he run for office "unopposed"? This is par for the course in Illinois. Lets see what else is as we rake the muck. Chances are, many of our local politicians have their hand in the jar also.
10:45 You over estimate Mike Madigan. He is about Mike and believe me when I say Mike will put Frank under the bus to save his own face. I agree that the campaign funds have nothing to do with Frank helping the residents. The Auditor General is a big job and if the Republicans can squash Frank they will be able to select another of their own. The risk is that if they don't squash Frank, well we know politics and it won't be good for those leading the charge. They may have the audit of their campaign funds. Or the audit of the committee that they chair. I wonder why the sometimes naïve local Senator Rezin has come out with her critical response and wanting a true investigation? Maybe, its she is running for office? Maybe, she wants paybacks to those local Democratic supporters that have worked against her? Its all politics and what we find outlandish, they find it another day in Springfield.
Same old story in politics. Squeaky clean when elected then the greasing games start. You have to play along or you're out in the cold.
And why does the Mayor of a Podunk little town of less than 10,000 need to constantly raise campaign money. Why does he need over $40,000 on hand when there is no election?
Why did Mr. Mautino need $438,000 in an election year when he had no opposition? What kind of campaigning was that money spent on?
4:34 The city is Peru. Don't know why he needs $40,000? Maybe ask him.
4:34 PM I do not know the specific reason the Mayor of a Podunk little town of less 10,000 needs to constantly raise campaign money. It is no brain teaser to known that you are referring to Peru, Illinois a town of 10,300 which geographically encompasses a expansive amount of land with a large retail section.
Mayor Harl, among many other proactive qualities, is very adapt at raising campaign funding. Being that he is so good at this it is a no brainier to do it. I can think of many legitimate reasons he wants to accumulate a large war chest but I have enough of a problem answering for myself as well as someone else. Nor do I possess the right. In conclusion if you believe that it is any of your business, which I do not, personally ask him.
If you have enough "friends" in business, the money can come in the front door as a "campaign expenditure" for something legitimate. Then, after a percentage is removed and no actual goods or services are delivered, a bag of cash can come out the back door. All squeaky clean. That is how a lobbying group can "legally bribe" an elected official.
4:34 does it make you feel big and strong to refer to Peru as a "podunk little town"? What does that make every other town outside of Ottawa for a thirty mile radius? What population makes it "podunk"?
Please tell us, what is you mighty position and what booming metropolis are you from? Jealous much?
Peru is far from what you see it, not only in population but also in the size of its business. I don't care if he raises money. He can raise a cool million of he wants to do so. It's not a secret and we are all just as capable as looking up how campaign fund and donors.
my reference to Peru as being Podunk is to put the appropriate scale on the city expenditures. There are many involved in Peru government that want to run this little town of less than 10,000 like it is Naperville. And yes, I realize that the last census put our Podunk town at 10,300. But the results next time around will be back down below 10K. In fact, the 2013 projection was 10,100 and dropping.
Peru will be around 9,000 on the next census.
Peru is going to lose over ten percent of it's population in the next four years? Okay 5:04. Whatever you say.
Nearly ALL downstate communities lost population over the last twenty years to the Chicago metro area, but not Peru. We actually gained. I will be surprised if we still gained but you don't live in reality so it really doesn't matter.
Peru will be at least 12,000 on the next census
Ha! We wish 9:57. I would predict about 10,300, close to where we are now but the Peru haters will contend it is a conspiracy by Harl and the council if it is above 10,000 and say "told you so it is all their fault" if it is below.
9:57 PM, January 31, 2016 -
Not according to the US Census Bureau. Take a look at the data before you post. People are dying faster than they are being born around here. There is not sufficient industrial growth to attract new people to the area either. In 2010, the official population of Peru was 10,297. The median age was 44. A full 47% of Peru's population in 2010 was over 62 years old - with a declining birth rate. The Census Bureau projected the population to be 10,014 in 2014. If you extrapolate their data out to 2020, it will show 9,595. The funny thing is the number of school age children is deceasing as we have invested heavily in school real estate.
Take a look at the data and make an informed assessment. Barring some big unknown factor, the population will be far from 12,000 by the next census.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/1759234lk.html
you don't get out or read much, do you 9:57. Illinois, LaSalle County, and Peru are all declining in population. Mostly due to the lack of career opportunities in our local area. No work for the Average Joe. So Joe is leaving the area or can't afford to have kids on the salary of a Corn Dog Dipper at Starved Rock in the summertime.
We need more mining. We need more heavy industry. We need more river and trucking transportation.
9:51 AM, February 01, 2016 - to get these things, we need to do something to separate LaSalle County from the pack. We need to declare ourselves a Union Free Zone. Enact local Right To Work laws and send the Inflatable Rat packing!
Right-to-Work in LaSalle County in 2016!
9:51 Mr.Corndog,
What is your average worker in the area and the wages that we call average? And what type of training should they get to get those so-called big jobs? Also before you jump to the right to work areas. Did you know that the only way to establish that power is by action from your state legislators. Do you think the new Rep. Andy Skoog will take that approach? He is for the county and will vote for the county as long as it is union jobs.
4:05 PM, February 01, 2016 - I know quite a bit about this subject. The average household income in LaSalle County Illinois right now is just about $53,000 - that is household income, which is usually two people working. The job market is declining. There are some good blue-collar opportunities. But that market is declining due to a lack of trained individuals. Those who can't go to college are often offered little in the form of training to work. LP's vocational program is a adequate, but needs additional resources. Most professional work is in the legal, education, medical industries. But the distribution is lopsided causing a decline in wages even for professionals. We have an economy in this area over reliant on government in some form or another.
We need the State Legislature to pass laws enabling local right to work zones, if they can't pass it for the entire state. We need the state government to enact reforms on workers compensation. We need the county government to stop putting up roadblocks that prevent agricultural land from being developed into industrial zones. We need lowered taxes across LaSalle County. We need an Education Industry that puts training in trades at the high school level on the same level as college preparation.
Unless you work for the government, including Education, salaries in the Illinois Valley are very low.
5:53 And who are you blaming?
Parent's and students must rely on education or technical training to get ahead. It's there responsibility. Not government.
The work of the government should be to set up lower taxes and right to work zones. Will that happen with the Democratic leaders in Illinois. Notice the key leaders at the local Union rally were Rep. Skoog and Senate hopeful; Benson. Worker's Compensation is out of control and has no chance of limiting power with the lawyer lobby and the union stronghold. We should be reading another open forum in the local news from a well known attorney about the evils of workers comp reform! These are getting old.
The county limit on farmland transferring over to industrial is very little. The only evidence that we have seen is the hog industry being limited in this area. I think this is more environmental than industrial problems.
We have seen a great deal about Junior colleges moving into job training and locally IVCC is involved in many aspects of job training. I am not sure that the high school should allocate more tax dollars in training provided by IVCC.
Mautino needs to go. Illinois Valley corruption and nepotism needs to go.
10:55 AM, February 02, 2016 - What the Junior College is teaching in relations to the trades, technical, and general workplace skills needs to be transferred to the High Schools. If so inclined, and with the correct course selection, a high school graduate should be able to walk into any factory around here and operate modern production equipment or get a job with any electrical or plumbing shop and get an entry level position.
High Schools need to concentrate on making people useful members of society. Not everyone will go on to a four year university degree program. Not every occupation needs a four year degree. Yet, our High Schools are insistent on feeding a bloated University Industry with fresh revenue in the form of tuition from students that will never finish a degree.
After High School, anyone should have the skills to enter an office and work. Or walk on to a factory floor and work. Or pick up a wrench and work.
10:44 There are specialized educational programs today. And high school won't cut it. The IVCC programs are catered to the specialized employer needs. Not every occupation needs a 4 year degree that's correct, but many jobs require skills like trade programs. Employers expect a product that is polished and will send the new hire to additional training. That training is available through the local college, on-line and other areas. I think your blaming high schools when you should be blaming parent's and students. Your responsible for your own learning! Go to class, be attentive, do your work, learn to read and have the self discipline to make yourself a useful member of society.
2:36. I don't buy it. They can do it in high school. Germany does it. They have two programs - you go into training or you go to university preparation. There is no reason why a student cannot walk out of high school and start making parts on the most advanced CNC machine on the market. We need to restructure high school education to produce what the economy needs. Right now, the "mission" of high school is to sell college loans!
6:15 The mission of high school is to get the kids through as fast as possible. They can't undo the lack of educational commitment from the dysfunctional family---60%.
9:00 AM, February 04, 2016 - you are correct. Children should be periodically monitored by the government. If they do not achieve certain standards, the government should take them to some sort of state sponsored living and education center. As it stands now, many women pump out kids just to get more benefits. Since the government will be paying for them anyway, the government should be able to break the cycle by removing them from the influence of unqualified parents. Another option is parenting licensing.
Post a Comment