The following press release was sent out by Democratic Party candidate for McHenry County State’s Attorney Tom Cynor late last night. Imagine my surprise to its reference to McHenry County Blog.
LOCAL BLOGGER EXPOSES STATE’S ATTORNEY’S UNETHICAL CAMPAIGNING PRACTICES
WOODSTOCK IL. – McHenry County State’s Attorney, Louis Bianchi (R-Crystal Lake, IL.) again appears to have run afoul of campaign ethics rules. After suffering a public embarrassment over the purchase of parade candy with taxpayer funds last primary season, Mr. Bianchi and his office have once again mixed official community outreach efforts and political campaigning. This time using a staffed State’s Attorney’s booth to distribute and display political signs at the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Business Expo held this spring.
Photographs taken on behalf of and posted on the internet by local Crystal Lake, Il. blogger, Cal Skinner (McHenry County Blog) reveal that the McHenry County State’s Attorney booth was used for political sign distribution and display. Not only is it unethical to mix campaigning while on official duty, it may be illegal if public funds were used to staff the booth or pay for the entry fee. The Illinois Election Interference Act states in part, “no public funds shall be used to urge any elector to vote for or against any candidate or proposition, or be appropriated for political or campaign purposes to any candidate or political organization.”
“Take a brief look at the photo and you can see that there is a stack of “Elect, Lou Bianchi signs” either being distributed or otherwise made available to the public at the McHenry County State’s Attorney table,” McHenry County Democratic Candidate, Thomas J. Cynor (D-Woodstock, IL) said. “Once again we have the State’s Attorney’s office mixing political campaigning with official business. When Mr. Bianchi goes out and does these types of community outreach events he is acting in his capacity as our public official. Our State’s Attorney’s Office is not an extension of his campaign office.”
Cynor stated further, “And if taxpayer money was used in staffing the booth or paying for the entry fee, this is a clear violation of the Illinois Election Interference Act. The taxpayers of McHenry County should never have to shoulder the expense of Mr. Bianchi’s political campaigning.”
In a published article in January, the Northwest Herald Editorial Board noted, “We believe that Bianchi has learned his lesson and will not try to bill taxpayers for such frivolous [parade candy et al.] expenses in the future.” Some three months after this article was penned, Mr. Bianchi was back at it again mixing official office business with political campaigning. Despite the Northwest Editorial Boards hopes, Mr. Bianchi has not learned his lesson or followed the law,” Cynor stated. “He’s given us no reason to believe he is going to start now or ever.”
