Schaumburg mayoral hopeful Costin warned for campaign violations

The State Board of Elections has determined that recent Schaumburg mayoral candidate Brian Costin committed two minor violations of campaign finance disclosure rules.

But amnesty was given in both cases as the state board acknowledged that compliance by electronic filing was outside of some candidates’ control.

An initial complaint against the former candidate was filed by former Schaumburg village trustee Patrick Riley, who called Costin — an outspoken advocate for government transparency — a hypocrite for not fully complying with disclosure laws.

But Costin said technology issues which affected many candidates were largely responsible for his violations, and the reason why all received one-time amnesties.

“After calling the State Board of Elections today, I believe I am 100 percent in compliance and owe no documentation of any kind,” Costin said. “I have never even been issued a fine by the State Board of Elections. On my end, I have done absolutely everything I could to comply with the law.”

Costin, who unsuccessfully challenged Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson’s bid for a seventh term, said he would have vigorously defended himself if amnesty had not been given.

“I don’t think they should call it a violation if the issue was theirs,” he said. “It’s like trying to file your tax returns and not being given an address to send them to.”

Riley said he was angered after having watched Costin admonish the village board for two years on ways it could improve its own transparency.

“He’s saying, ‘Transparency is required for thee but not for me,’” Riley said.

He argued that Costin, who works for the Illinois Policy Institute, should have been as capable as anyone of filing proper disclosure forms.

Riley resigned from the Schaumburg village board in 2005 when he was appointed to the Regional Transportation Authority’s board of directors. His term on the RTA board now over, he was recently appointed to Schaumburg’s plan commission.

“He’s a political ally of my opponent,” Costin said of Riley. “It seems like he’s trying to settle some political grudge.”

The state board determined Costin had failed to file a report of his contribution of $3,500 to own his campaign committee, Costin for Schaumburg, on Feb. 16. The Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act requires reporting of such donations of $1,000 or more.

The board also issued Costin a warning being five days late with his April quarterly report of campaign contributions and expenditures.

Sharon Steward, director of the state board’s Campaign Disclosure Division, said about 800 campaigns committed the same types of violations, and all received one-time amnesties.

Those were granted, she said, in part because this year was the first time quarterly reports were required. Previously, only semiannual reports were needed.

It was also the first time contribution reports had to be filed electronically, and many committees reported difficulties with the reporting software, she said.

Without the amnesty, Costin’s committee could have been fined $3,500 for failing to file the contribution report for that amount and another $25 to $200 per business day that the quarterly report was late.