State Sen. Noland: Inappropriate email was an 'oversight'

State Sen. Michael Noland has come under fire for an e-mail that his private campaign sent out that asks for donations and also lists his taxpayer-funded Springfield and Elgin offices.

The Elgin Democrat, who is seeking another 4-year term this November, said that the June 11 e-mail entitled "The Blame Game" was an "oversight" that was recognized immediately and fixed.

"We have corrected the situation," Noland said Thursday. "I am overall responsible. I am not going to blame somebody else."

The issue was raised by Ryan Cudney, executive director of the Republican State Senate Campaign Committee, and Elgin Republican Steve Rauschenberger, who held the 22nd District senate seat for more than a decade before an unsuccessful run at governor. He is running against Noland in the November election.

"One would think that the federal corruption trial of former Gov. Blagojevich would remind Sen. Noland to show some regard for ethical standards," Cudney said. "Instead, Sen. Noland seems to have an ongoing problem making the important distinction between his state duties and his political activities."

The June 11 e-mail, which was sent from Noland.org, touts Noland's efforts to create jobs in Elgin. The e-mail also asks people to donate to Noland's campaign and lists the Springfield location and Elgin office as a means to contact him.

The e-mail also states it was paid for by Citizens For Noland and lists that group's post office box address. Clicking on the fundraising link also takes the viewer to the private campaign website.

Rauschenberger argues that Noland's e-mail is soliciting donations from state property.

"He's been in office for four years. He should be up to date on ethical standards," Rauschenberger said. "There's been a pattern of this over the last three months. He should cease and desist."

Noland said he has fixed the problem and pointed to a June 13 e-mail blast his campaign sent out giving his thoughts on the BP oil spill. The e-mail blast does not contain his Springfield or Elgin office addresses.

Noland also said the oversight technically does not violate any ethical standards, but he corrected it to remove any appearance of impropriety. Now, if the e-mail was sent from his taxpayer-funded office asking for donations to his private campaign, Noland said, that would be a clear ethics violation.

In May, Noland also raised eyebrows when he sent a letter on official state stationery to 15 Republican lawmakers asking them to support a plan that would raise the state income tax to 5 percent from 3 percent and expand the sales tax to services in an effort to help balance state spending.