Anti-Campton Hills group loses $637 to state

A political group that is trying to dismantle the village of Campton Hills must turn $637 in donations over to the state because there is no record of the money's source, officials said Monday.

The Stop Campton Hills Public Action Committee also must file campaign disclosure information about a storefront used as its operating headquarters since last fall, or face fines, according to state election officials.

Both issues came as news Monday to committee leaders, who brushed off the missing details as a result of political inexperience.

"We'll do whatever is legally correct," committee Chairman Chris Baldwin said.

The committee is backing eight candidates for village offices in the Feb. 5 election and has proposed a referendum on whether to dissolve the new town, which incorporated in the last election.

As of Dec. 31, the group had raised just more than $13,000 and spent $9,035, according to finance reports. All the reported donations came from individuals -- not businesses -- including two election candidates who together contributed $2,921.

Baldwin said the filings disprove speculation the anti-village movement is being funded by developers who stand to see homebuilding prices go up as a result of village fees. Village officials have long suggested that one developer in particular, B & B Enterprises, was behind the dissolution push.

"It shows that the accusations are wrong and it needs to stop," Baldwin said.

Of 29 individual donations reported to the state board of elections, eight, totaling $637, were from anonymous donors -- a no-no, according to Rupert Borgsmiller, the state director of campaign disclosure. Borgsmiller said funds lacking a record of the donor must be handed over to the state treasury.

Committee treasurer Steve Burdette said the anonymous donations were made during an October meeting, where several donors left behind money but not their names.

As for the storefront, he said he did not report the use of an office on LaFox Road as an in-kind donation because he was never given a value for the contribution. The space is owned by Fox Valley Ophthalmology, which offered its use to the committee at no charge, Burdette said.

"Nobody's ever told us what it's worth," he said.

So far, the committee has spent nearly $3,800 on signs and mailers and $5,000 on legal expenses, filings show.

The group has reported to the state that it plans to raffle off a 2008 Ford Mustang one day before the election, Borgsmiller said. The vehicle is being purchased through the sale of $25 raffle tickets, Baldwin said, and the money will help offset the committee's mounting legal bills.

While responding to questions about the campaign filings, Burdette and Baldwin each criticized village officials and opposing candidates for not disclosing any campaign finance information in the latest reporting cycle.

They also raised questions about the cost of a Web site for pro-village candidates, campaign signs and other election necessities.

Village President Patsy Smith said she and several other candidates didn't receive enough donations to meet the $3,000 threshold for being required to file disclosure statements, and therefore are within the law.