March 29, 2024
Local News | Bureau County Republican


Local News

Mautino: Illinois Auditor General?

State rep. would have to relinquish his 76th District seat if appointed

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois State Rep. Frank Mautino has unofficially thrown his hat in the ring to be the state’s next auditor general.

Having served on the Legislative Audit Commission for 18 years — 12 of those as co-chairman of the commission, Mautino said he clearly has the experience and the track record to assume the position, after the current auditor general, William Holland, will retire in January after serving 25 years in that position.

Mautino said he officially resigned his seat on the Legislative Audit Commission last week, which was necessary for him to eventually apply for the post.

“It was important for me to do that. They are going to take applications (for the auditor general position) over the next few weeks,” Mautino said. “Beginning Aug. 1, they will accept applications through the 14th, and then they will schedule interviews.”

The auditor general seat is a statewide constitutional executive officer, equal to the secretary of state, the governor and the lieutenant governor. It is the only seat not elected by voters, rather the post is elected by the Senate and House of Representatives. The person winning the position will need a super majority vote from both houses — a three-fifths majority vote, which Mautino said insures bipartisan support.

When Mautino tendered his resignation from the Legislative Audit Commission, he said he went to all four of the leaders from both parties to make them aware of his resignation.

“I did that out of respect,” Mautino said. “They were very supportive ... I’ve also been receiving calls from Republican members who have said, we want you to do this.”

As the auditor general, Mautino would basically be in charge of 110 state agencies under the governor for financial and legal compliance. Not only would he oversee the Legislative Audit Commission, he would be responsible for the internal and external auditors, budgets as well as presiding over all the committees. He would also meet with all the directors of all the state agencies and eventually present the audits to the General Assembly and the general public.

In a nutshell, the Legislative Audit Commission, reviews and presides over state agencies to insure compliance with state and federal regulations and laws.

Currently, Mautino, a Democrat, serves as deputy majority leader under House Speaker Michael Madigan. He represents the 76th District, which includes all or parts of Livingston, Bureau, Putnam and LaSalle counties. He was most recently re-elected to a two-year term, which expires in January 2017.

“I believe Frank Mautino would bring great integrity and a great knowledge of the auditor general’s office and to all of state government,” Madigan said.

If selected for the auditor general post, Mautino will have to resign from his seat in the House of Representatives.

“Should I be fortunate enough to be appointed to the auditor general, then a new representative would be appointed,” Mautino said. “The Democratic party holds the seat, so it would be a Democrat.”

The seat would then be up for grabs in the next election.

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