Elgin residents accuse councilwoman of violating election law
Two Elgin residents are accusing Councilwoman Rose Martinez of violating election law by not reporting campaign contributions in a timely manner.
Resident Margaret Miller filed a complaint with Illinois State Board of Elections alleging that Martinez failed to report contributions of $1,000 or more within the required five days.
Martinez, who was appointed to her seat in May, is among 11 candidates vying for four open seats on the Elgin City Council in Tuesday's election.
A $1,000 contribution to Martinez's campaign from the Construction and General Laborers' District Council of Chicago was dated Jan. 12, and two $5,000 contributions, one by James Liautaud and another Grazina Liautaud, were dated Jan. 28; both were reported Feb. 8, according to the state board of elections website.
Martinez said her nephew, Miguel Martinez, handles her campaign filings. She said she wasn't sure if the dates listed for the contributions referred to the checks' dates or when they were deposited.
"We're not experts," she said. "My nephew graduated college, and I wanted to get him involved in the campaign. It's good for youth to be involved."
Chuck Keysor, chairman of the conservative group Elgin OCTAVE, said he mailed certified copies of Miller's filing late Wednesday to Martinez and the state board of elections office in Chicago.
Miller and Keysor said they looked at Martinez's online campaign disclosure forms after hearing her say on a local radio show that she didn't know much about her campaign finances.
"She's running what appears to be a professional campaign. She has huge yard signs; she's obviously spending a lot of money, but yet she doesn't know anything about the funds she has," Miller said. "She's not educated as being the treasurer (of Citizens for Rose Martinez)."
Martinez might get fined if found in violation, Keysor said. He also said he consulted an attorney and an election official, who said a hearing might take place in three to four weeks.
"Obviously we wanted her to lose votes, but the point is not to smear her or attack her," Keysor said. "Part of being qualified for a responsible position is that you can follow the rules and know what is required to run for office."
Martinez said she's just running "an honest campaign."
"(Keysor) is going to do what he's doing to do. He's admitted what his motives were," Martinez said. "I'm just running my campaign. I'm not bad-mouthing anybody."