Southern Illinoisan

By Kristen Cates

October 18, 2006

CARBONDALE — State Sen. Dan Rutherford, Republican candidate for secretary of state, is continuing to insist that not only have hiring practices been ignored under Jesse White’s thumbnail, but contracts have also been illegal.

Rutherford points to two top officials in White’s office — chief of staff Thomas Benigno and personnel director Steve Roth — who have both allegedly awarded their wives no-bid contracts to work for the office.

Rutherford said this is illegal according to Illinois procurement code, listed under the Illinois Compiled Statutes, which states that employees who are earning in excess of 60 percent of the governor’s salary cannot contract with a spouse or minor child who will be paid for through state funding.

He lays the blame on White.

“He’s violating the law now,” Rutherford said.

He has sent his complaint to Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office, requesting an investigation.

Rutherford pointed to other media reports that indicate the governor’s salary is $150,691; Benigno makes $139,296 and Roth earns $103,500 (well within the 60 percent range).

He has a copy of Benna Benigno’s business card, which indicates she is an “intelligence analyst” for the secretary of state’s office and that she is paid approximately $2,000 a month. Melissa Roth earns $30.12 per hour as a speaker on safety issues.

“It takes away from the ability of taxpayers to trust government,” he said.

White’s campaign spokesperson Dave Druker said the two women were hired based on an exemption in that procurement code which allows for spouses to be hired under “ministerial duties” such as “laborer, clerk, typist, stenographer, page, bookkeeper, receptionist or telephone switchboard operator.”

Druker insisted that both women act as secretaries.

Rutherford doesn’t believe that two women earning that much money qualify as secretaries.

“I don’t know any secretary that’s making $25 per hour,” Rutherford said. “I think what they’re doing is trying to do a cover up.”

Rutherford has insisted that if he is elected, no member of his family will work for his office.

Druker said he believes the two staffers acted appropriately under the exemption, but will await the opinion of the attorney general. But he said Rutherford is behind in the polls and looking to poke holes in White’s office.

“I think he’s desperate to get some kind of attention for a failing campaign,” Druker said.