Democratic candidate rebuts pay-to-play allegations

Democrat Aurora Austriaco's law firm and law partners have given more than $100,000 to Gov. Rod Blagojevich's campaign fund and they have won more than $1 million in state legal work since 2005, according to public records.

State Rep. Rosemary Mulligan calls that "pay-to-play" and the Des Plaines Republican is using the information in a political mailer to blast her opponent in the 65th District.

"If you give that kind of dough and then your law firm is getting those kinds of projects, somebody ought to call her out on it," says Mulligan. "And I'm the one to do it."

Austriaco of Park Ridge calls it an unfair attack.

"There have never been any allegations of wrongdoing," Austriaco says. "There is nothing there. These are baseless allegations. It is as simple as that."

Austriaco said her law firm - Peck, Bloom, Austriaco & Koenig LLC - represents the state in disability issues. She says the firm landed the work because her partners are experts in that legal field.

Austriaco, a real estate attorney, said she does not work on the state contracts in her firm.

Austriaco has personally given donations to Blagojevich, at least $1,200 according to state records. The last donation came in June of 2006. She says that was a mistake now.

"I supported the policies that he said he advocated," she said. "No one is more disappointed in the governor than I am. He ran for governor promising to be one thing and then became another."

Austriaco said she will support efforts to make voter recall available so politicians like Blagojevich can be removed from office.

The 65th District includes parts of Des Plaines, Rosemont, Arlington Heights, Park Ridge and Elk Grove Village.