What’s this I see about perennial butterfly, Vince Illuzzi?
Now that he has finally settled upon an office to seek, it unfortunately highlights some of his own self-auditing issues:
Democratic candidate for State Auditor Doug Hoffer today said the July 16 campaign finance report of Vince Illuzzi is at odds with his July 2011 filing and that an amended report may be required to clear up the confusion.
According to documents available on the Secretary of State’s website, the report filed by Mr. Illuzzi in July 2011 reported a carry-forward of $30,923 from his Senate Campaign account.[1]
Mr. Illuzzi’s July 16, 2012 finance report shows a contribution of $13,105 from his Senate Campaign Account.[2] It is characterized as “surplus” which suggests that it is all that remains from that account. Since there has been no election for Senator Illuzzi since July 2011, there remains a question about what happened to the other $17,818 from his Senate campaign account. Mr. Illuzzi did not file a finance report for his Senate campaign.
“There may well be a good explanation for the inconsistency but it is for Mr. Illuzzi to clear it up.”
OUCH! One more strike against the feisty senator’s credibility.
Why’d you ever give up the safety of your senate seat, Vince?
As it turns out, he did submit a report but it raises some questions.
First some context: A candidate is allowed to shift money from one campaign account to another but the expenditures have to be reported (and in a timely manner).
In Mr. Illuzzi’s senate campaign filing, we learned that he spent $10,000 on a San Francisco consulting firm in April, presumably to do polling about his interest in running for Attorney General. I’m guessing he didn’t like what he learned, which is when he turned his attention to the Auditor’s race.
To be clear, there is nothing illegal or inappropriate here. However, a) how serious is his commitment to this job if it wasn’t his first choice? b) when was the senate campaign report actually submitted? c) why wasn’t it posted on the state website? and d) was it really necessary to use an out of state consulting firm to do polling (if that’s what was purchased)? Buy local?
btw – here is the company’s list of clients
http://www.dresner-wickers.com…
…Randy Brock’s out-of-state pollster/consultant.