Monday, February 17, 2014
www.saukvalley.com
ELECTION 2014 | ILLINOIS GOVERNOR’S RACE
IN BRIEF Tea party holding canidiates forum DIXON – The Sauk Valley Tea Party invites Lee County voters to a candidates forum at 6:30 p.m. &EB AT the Loveland "UILDING W. Second St. Incumbent Sheriff John Sheriff John Varga Varga has said he will attend; his GOP primary challenger John Simonton, a Dixon police offiJohn cer, has not Simonton responded to multiple invitations, the tea party said in the release announcing the forum. 5 3 2EP !DAM +INZinger, a Republican, and his 16th District challenger, David Hale, a tea party member and registered nurse, also have been invited. Hale has agreed to attend, the release said. The primary election is March 18. Go to SaukValleyTeaParty.com or email SaukValleyTeaParty@live.com for more information.
Apply for funds from United Way DIXON – United Way of Lee County is accepting funding applications until March 17 from nonPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN Lee County that provide health and human service programs. Contact Sue Hohlen, executive director, at unitedwayofleecounty@comCAST NET OR for eligibility requirements, applications and instructions. –SVM staff reports
Rutherford lodging becomes issue Shared room with subordinate, paying for rooms at issue CHICAGO (AP) – In his pitch to become Illinois governor, state Treasurer Dan Rutherford boasts of his cheap travel and lodging practices as part of a frugal conservatism that will serve taxpayers if he becomes the state’s next chief executive. But a pattern of sharing hotel rooms and a Chicago studio apartment with a subordinate on his government staff has become an issue in the Republican’s primary campaign, raising questions about his adherence to common workplace management practices and the line between government duties and political campaigning. Since taking office in 2011, Rutherford has shared a hotel room with his executive assistant, Joshua Lanning, at least ten nights while traveling on official business. The
two also stayed together dozens of times in the Chicago apartment paid for with campaign funds. The treasurer billed Illinois taxpayers for the hotels, but reimbursed the state last year for five nights after an internal review determined the travel should have been covered by campaign funds. In an Associated Press interview this month, Rutherford said he shared a room with Lanning only twice on state business, but public records and his office later confirmed it happened more often. A state government travel guideline says employees are entitled to their own room during travel, and the practice of sharing lodging with a boss is frowned upon in the business world for possibly placing subordinates in uncomfortable situations. Lanning, 28, of Pontiac, has worked since 2008 for Rutherford, who previously was a state legislator.
T h e sharedroom issue has arisen at the same time Rutherford, 58, Dan is defendRutherford ing himself against a federal lawsuit claiming he sexually harassed a different employee and forced him to do political work on government time. Rutherford has strongly denied both allegations, blaming them on dirty politics in the four-way GOP primary among him, businessman Bruce Rauner and state Sens. Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady. The treasurer accuses Rauner of being behind the lawsuit to sabotage his campaign, a charge Rauner dismisses as “ridiculous.� Earlier this month, the Chicago Sun-Times documented how Rutherford and Lanning traveled together during several foreign trips funded by third parties. The Chicago Tribune
reported this week that Rutherford and Lanning had stayed together at least 50 times at the Chicago apartment while campaigning, which Rutherford’s office later confirmed. The treasurer’s travel practices also were called into question in a recent AP report about his Facebook and Twitter accounts highlighting a mix of government work and political appearances on statepaid trips. The treasurer defends the room-sharing as simply a way to save money, arguing businesses and even professional sports leagues do it. He insists he only does it during travel in expensive places and on campaign business. “Our staffs on the campaign, they share rooms when we travel,� Rutherford told the AP. “Josh has been with me for years on our operation. There’s other businesses where [a] boss and others share.� Lanning did not
respond to several requests by the AP for comment. In a 2012 interview with his hometown paper, the Pontiac Daily Leader, he described his job as doing research for the treasurer, handling constituent requests and frequent travel. He has a young son and spends personal time working on Rutherford campaign activities, he told the paper. A Rutherford spokeswoman said the two men’s relationship is purely professional. An AP review of Rutherford’s travel expenses showed that in a number of instances he billed taxpayers, at least initially, for the joint travel. During his interview with AP, the treasurer’s answers changed when asked how often he’d shared rooms with Lanning: first confirming the practice, then saying it never had been on state business, then citing two trips – to Washington D.C. and New York, where hotel rooms can cost several hundred dollars per night.
MASONIC SCHOLASTIC BOWL
Local teams advance to state academic tournament STAFF REPORT news@saukvalley.com EXT
A handful of Sauk Valley schools will be competing in next month’s Masonic Academic Bowl State Tournament, after winning berths at their sectionals Saturday. Newman Central Catholic, Morrison, West Carroll and Milledgeville
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high schools placed first through fourth, respectively, in their sectional, held at Morrison High School. A sectional also was held at Riverdale High School in Port Byron. Riverdale, Bureau Valley, Amboy and Prophetstown high schools placed first through fourth, respectively, in their tournament.
Get the results Visit www.masonicbowl.org for all the results and more information. Oregon High School took second place in its sectional, held at Byron High. Sectionals were held Saturday at 30 sites
around the state, and 296 schools participated. Winners advance to the Masonic state tournament, which will be held March 1 at Springfield High School. The other high schools competing Saturday in Morrison were AshtonFranklin Center, Eastland, Forreston and Polo. The Morrison Masonic
Lodge sponsored the tournament. Morrison went to the Mason’s state tournament last year; Newman has not been since 2003, “so we are really excited to have the opportunity this year to compete against some of the best scholastic bowl teams in the state,� Newman coach Ann Propheter said in an email.
Puzzle Mania Game Piece
Look in today’s paper for your first puzzle piece. Each day this week a different puzzle piece will be featured. Collect all 6 pieces throughout the week to finish the puzzle. Mail or drop off your finished puzzle entry to win $100 at a participating advertiser! Name__________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________ Phone Number____________________________________________ Entries are due no later than the following Wednesday.
Mail or drop off entries to:
3AUK 6ALLEY -EDIA s % ,INCOLNWAY 3TERLING ), 4ELEGRAPH s 3 0EORIA !VENUE $IXON ), /GLE #OUNTY .EWSPAPERS s ! 3 &OURTH 3T /REGON )LLINOIS