January 26, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Gail Philbin 616-558-6490

Goldman Calls for Investigation into Campaign Fund Violations by State Rep. Annazette Collins

Agency Fails to Respond to FOIA Request about Collins’ Employment

Chicago, Ill. – Jonathan Goldman, a Democratic candidate for state representative in the 10th District, filed a complaint today with the Illinois State Board of Elections (SBOE) over repeated violations of the Election Code regarding the allowable use of campaign funds by Friends of Annazette R. Collins, the political committee for State Rep. Annazette Collins.

The complaint outlines two areas of concern: the conversion of campaign funds to personal use and Collins’ failure to fully comply with a 2008 SBOE settlement agreement for a prior complaint. That complaint arose after her committee failed to report any campaign contributions for three years while accepting more than $100,000 in donations. The settlement agreement required her to issue a public apology, and required her committee to pay a $20,000 fine and to file complete and accurate disclosure reports in the future.

“I am calling on the State Board of Elections to quickly investigate these violations,” said Goldman, a long-time public interest advocate who is running for office for the first time. “One year after the removal of Rod Blagojevich from office, we cannot tolerate more corrupt politicians in Illinois.

“I sincerely hope that Rep. Collins has simple explanations for these violations, and that she will be exonerated, but the voters of the 10th District have a right to know whether their State Representative is breaking the law by benefitting from the personal use of more than $60,000 in campaign funds.

“Rep. Collins has funded her campaigns almost exclusively with contributions from special interest groups that are lobbying for her vote on matters before the General Assembly. As a result, these irregularities are even more troubling, if in fact money from these donations is winding up in her pocket.”

Goldman’s SBOE complaint documents a pattern of illegal use of campaign funds for personal use including $34,000 in personal loans that appear to actually have been gifts; $14,000 in improper personal vehicle payments; and more than $600 in impermissible reimbursement for travel. The complaint also notes unusually high levels (more than $7,000) of campaign funds used for purchases of office supplies and equipment at Target in five years and the payment of nearly $7,000 in bank and insufficient fund fees during a period when the committee maintained a positive bank balance.

“As far as I can tell, Rep. Collins has never issued the apology required by the 2008 settlement agreement,” said Goldman.

The complaint also notes that Collins failed to report $1,700 worth of campaign contributions she received from several PACs in 2008 and 2009, as well as failing to report fees for legal services for her election attorney, Michael Kasper.

The SBOE is expected to have a hearing on this matter before Election Day, as is required by law.

A public interest advocate for 20 years, Goldman has fought for environmental, education, public health and consumer issues, building a strong track record as one of the most successful public interest advocates at the Capitol. He most recently served for seven years as Executive Director of the Illinois Environmental Council, before starting Advocacy Incorporated, a public interest advocacy and consulting business serving non-profit organizations.

For more information about Jonathan Goldman’s campaign, call 888-633-2010 or visit www.JonathanForIllinois.com.

To view a PDF of this release, as well as the complaint and the 2008 settlement agreement, click here.

For more information about Jonathan Goldman’s campaign, call 888-633-2010 or visit www.JonathanForIllinois.com.

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