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Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 148 No. 23
“PRSRT STD.” US Postage Paid No. 486 SHAW MEDIA POSTAL PATRON LOCAL R.R. BOXHOLDER CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Mautino spending comes under fire By Terri Simon
tsimon@putnamcountyrecord.com
SPRINGFIELD — Just a little more than a month after former Illinois State Rep. Frank Mautino (D-Spring Valley) took off his legislative hat and put on the one that named him Illinois Auditor General, controversy now surrounds Mautino and his campaign financial reports.
Primarily, the issue at question is: Did Mautino appropriately spend campaign contributions and were those contributions reported in a correct manner? Media, as well as some public officials, around the state are calling into question several dollars Mautino spent, primarily from his campaign committee dubbed, Committee for Frank J. Mautino.
Specifically in question are also campaign donations Mautino allegedly received and spent during his transition from Illinois Representative to Illinois Auditor General. Mautino, who became a state representative in 1991, was sworn into the Illinois Auditor General office early in December 2015, but didn’t take his seat until Jan. 1, 2016. A spokesperson for Mau-
tino said the long-time Illinois Representative closed his campaign committee at the end of December 2015. Items among the questionable spending include more than $200,000 spent from Mautino’s campaign fund at Happy’s Super Service Station in Spring Valley throughout the course of more than 10 years, according to the Illinois State Board
of Elections. Most of the expenses to Happy’s were listed as gasoline/camp. (campaign) vehicle repair and were drawn on the Committee for Frank J. Mautino account. Those expenditures were first reported by the Edgar County Watchdogs, which is an organization that hosts a website dubbed Illinois Leaks. Since that time, the Illinois Times as well
as other media organizations have picked up the story, asking Mautino to explain his expenditures. While Illinois law does not allow the auditor general to participate in political actions, the contributions in question appear to have come before Mautino was actually sworn into the Illinois Auditor General’s seat.
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Enterprise zone applications
Seeing red ...
IDOC begins reviewing applications SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Commerce announced it has received 18 applications for the second round of enterprise zone designations. Applications will be reviewed by the department and then evaluated for selection by the state’s enterprise zone board. Enterprise zones encourage job growth and investment in economically depressed areas. Companies within a zone, or that agree to move into one, can qualify for tax incentives that include sales tax exemptions on purchases of building materials and manufacturing equipment and an exemption for utility taxes. Each zone is administered by a local official under rules set by the state. Illinois law provides that 12 zones may be designated this year. The department certified 49 zones to take effect on Jan. 1, 2016.
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Hennepin native is serving aboard the USS West Virginia
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By Dave Cook news@pcrnews.com
PCR photo/Mike Vaughn
The Northern Cardinal, the official state bird of Illinois, can be clearly seen at this time of the year, especially with a freshly-fallen snow cover on the ground. One of America’s favorite birds, its’ distinctive color and wellknown song is clearly recognizable in one’s backyard. Illinois school children selected the cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) as the State Bird of Illinois, made official in 1929 by the Illinois General Assembly. Vol. 148 No. 23 One Section - 16 Pages
© The Putnam County Record
HENNEPIN — Nicknamed “The Silent Mountaineer” and built specifically for stealth, the USS West Virginia has silently patrolled the depths of the oceans since its commission in 1990. A launch platform for intercontinental ballistic missiles, the 560-foot long nuclear powered submarine requires a crew capable of meeting the highest standards. A Hennepin native is among those who are qualified to wear the Navy’s coveted dolphin insignia. Justin Malavolti, a Petty Officer 2nd Class, is a navigation electronics technician responsible for maintaining the electrical equipment necessary to keep the West Virginia on a steady course. Malavolti, who entered the Navy in 2011, enjoys the technical challenges of his post. “I like being able to fix electrical problems. I also enjoy the hands-on training,” said Malavolti. Malavolti’s inspiration to gain expertise in electronics and to join the Navy is almost certainly traceable to his family. His father, Hennepin resident Steve Malavolti, along with Justin’s uncles, are all retired Navy Chiefs with 60 years of service between them. His father also has a background in electronics, including work communicating with submarines.
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