South West Illinois News

State Rep. Brandon Phelps's (D-Harrisburg) campaign records have revealed questionable spending akin to that of Illinois General Auditor Frank Mautino, Republican House Candidate Jason Kasiar contends.

His campaign reporting indicated Phelps spent more than $300 on food during three trips to Butternut Hut in Springfield  — a bar with no kitchen that offers free popcorn and frozen pizza to its patrons. The Illinois Times reported that Phelps said he spent the money on pizza and beverages for up to 35 legislative staff who were his guests at Butternut Hut.

Kasiar, who is vying for Phelps’ District 118 seat, told Southwest Illinois News Phelps’ campaign reporting doesn’t add up.

“My opponent spent $93,000 in the third quarter out of his campaigning on not very many things that looked like they had to do with campaigning,” Kasiar said. “And then in the fourth quarter he spent $2,000 out of it.”

At the beginning of 2015, Phelps had $188,700 in his campaign account, which grew substantially to $678,400.

“At this point he has $678,000 in campaign funds, my opponent does," Kasiar said. "It seems that people are living out of their campaign funds somewhat and I’m not okay with that. I think a campaign fund is exactly that, a campaign fund. I don’t understand spending — for instance my opponent having $678,000 in his campaign fund — that kind of money for a job that pays $67,000 a year. To me that is absolutely mind blowing.”

Kasiar said he believes rules on campaign spending need to be stricter.

“There needs to be some type of limits on money that can be spent on an election,” he said. “In my personal opinion, that is a lot of money wasted that can go into a part of the solution for the state.”

Last year, the Democratic incumbent spent $12,154 on vehicle leases, $2,596 on airfare, $6,299 on lodging and $12,687 on meals, including $1,020 for dinner at TAO, a Las Vegas restaurant, which Phelps justified by stating he picked up the tab for several dinners, the Illinois Times reported.

Phelps also spent $1,106 on “maintenance” at Outlaw Motorsports in November and December. Outlaw Motorsports sells and repairs motorcycles, snowmobiles and ATVs. Phelps reportedly stated that his four-wheeler needed repairs.

Included in his expenditures was a $1,100 donation to the Central Florida Shootout, which is a fishing tournament in Florida. Phelps also went to the Shot Show, a gun expo in Las Vegas. He stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel during the gun show and racked up a $1,340 tab for his stay.

Phelps told the Illinois Times that he left the expo early when he found out that Adult Video News was holding its annual adult entertainment convention at the same time at the Hard Rock Hotel. The Illinois Times reported that Phelps said he checked out the day before the crowd of porn stars and their fans arrived.

Phelps did not respond to a request for comment.