Cronin defends use of office phone number at campaign Web site

One of Sen. Dan Cronin's campaign Web sites directs visitors to contact the Elmhurst Republican's taxpayer-funded district office.

That bothers two good-government groups, which take issue with using state office contact information near pitches for campaign donations and volunteers. They say it blurs the line between official business and political campaigning.

But Cronin, head of the DuPage County GOP and candidate for county chairman, insists the Web site is operated by the book.

"If people call my office with a campaign question, we don't take the call," he said. "We direct them somewhere else."

The problem, says Better Government Association President Dave Lundy, is that people interested in Cronin's campaign are directed to call his legislative office in the first place. That sets up the perception that Cronin is doing campaign work out of his state office, he said.

"That is just a flat out no-no," Lundy said. "Taxpayer-funded offices are only to be used for taxpayer-funded business. End of story."

The setup doesn't appear to directly violate any state ethics laws, but it clearly creates conflicts, says Illinois Campaign for Political Reform deputy director David Morrison. With the legislative office listed as a contact on the campaign Web site, Morrison said Cronin's staff is more likely to receive calls about fundraisers and volunteering that should be handled only by a campaign staff.

"This sets up your district office for conflicts," said Morrison. "He ought to make clearer what is a campaign number and what is a legislative number."

A review of several other campaign Web sites for state lawmakers found them referring visitors to campaign offices and phone numbers, not district offices.

Cronin certainly isn't the first to face criticism over a campaign Web site. Just last month, state Rep. Julie Hamos, an Evanston Democrat, took heat for listing her legislative office as a contact at her 10th District Congressional campaign Web site.

Cronin says he plans to add his campaign office number to the campaign Web site.

Still, he also says that the Web site in question is intended to be a hybrid between campaign and state business. He said he receives lots of contacts from it that are state business related.

Cronin also has a third Web site that is bannered by his campaign for county chairman. The Web site in question, also paid for by his campaign, is bannered with his state Senate title and it includes links for donating and volunteering for his campaign.

"It is there to provide a wide range of information," Cronin said. "What we are doing is perfectly proper."

Cronin says that because no taxpayer dollars are used to support the Web site in question, it is legitimate to list his legislative office as long as the staff doesn't accept campaign-related phone calls.

The sensitivity over the line between state resources and campaigns stems from Illinois' long history of related scandals. The practice of using state resources, such as telephones, staff and offices, for campaigning is banned not only because it abuses taxpayer money but it also gives an unfair edge for incumbents to maintain power.

GOP Gov. George Ryan was convicted of essentially using the entire secretary of state's office as a campaign apparatus. Another prominent Republican, former House GOP leader Lee Daniels, was embroiled in a scandal over having state employees work campaigns while on the taxpayers' dime.

Then there is ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich, arrested for allegedly selling off state contracts and other perks for large campaign donations.

Cronin is facing off for the chairman post in DuPage County against several Republicans in the Feb. 2 primary, including state Sen. Carole Pankau of Itasca and Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso. Incumbent Bob Schillerstrom is running for governor.