Frerichs Needs To Answer For Mistakes Made As Auditor
Bad Math & Patronage Scandals Highlight Frerichs’ Past
Chicago… State Senator and Democrat candidate for Treasurer Mike Frerichs has touted his financial experience and plans to deter the influence of special interests in the Treasurer’s office. But first, Frerichs has to answer for on-the-job errors that cost the taxpayers millions, and past instances of patronage that undercut his claims at reform, says Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider.
“As Auditor, Mike Frerichs missed the mark on an Early Retirement Initiative that he said would save Champaign County thousands, but it ended up costing taxpayers millions,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider. “Illinois simply cannot afford a Treasurer who is bad at math.”
In 2003, Champaign County Auditor Mike Frerichs was tasked with analyzing an Early Retirement Initiative (ERI) for Champaign County. Relying on the analysis and data from Auditor Mike Frerichs, the Champaign County Board approved the ERI plan and Frerichs supported the plan saying it is a “good tool to deal with budgetary problems for the county board.” (“County Board to Consider Offering Early Retirement,” The Champaign News-Gazette, 7/3/03)
Within a few short months, Frerichs’ analysis proved to be far off the mark as the plan failed to achieve savings and in fact created $2.45 million in new unfunded liabilities for the county.
The funding shortfall required the Champaign County Board to conduct a bonding issuance to pay off pension obligations for IMRF. The bonds to pay off the failed ERI program were finally paid off nine years later in January 2014 with a total cost to taxpayers of more than three million dollars. (Champaign County Budget)
Frerichs’ mistakes as Auditor were documented during the County Board debate to remove him as Champaign County’s agent with IMRF. Frerichs fought the dismissal, but it was approved by the County Board by a bipartisan vote of 17-5. (Champaign County Policy, Personnel and Appointments Committee – 9/6/2006, Champaign County Board Minutes – 9/21/2006)
Frerichs has continued to try to hide his mistakes made during the ERI. First, he blamed the cost to taxpayers on stock market returns after the ERI, until it was pointed out the market outperformed expectations. Then he said that he was only in charge of gathering data, when in fact he presented the plan to the Champaign County Board Finance Committee. (”Treasurer Race Heats Up Over Accusations of Mismanagement, Patronage,” The Associated Press, 8/12/14; Champaign County Board Finance Committee Minutes, 4/23/03)
“Mike Frerichs’ bad math cost Champaign County taxpayers millions,” said Schneider. “The simple truth is that Frerichs has neither the skill set nor experience to be Illinois Treasurer. He simply is not ready for the responsibility.”
Patronage & Alleged Ghost Payrolling
Mike Frerichs is at the epicenter of two of the most publicized and costly patronage scandals in recent Champaign County history. While Frerichs claims he wants to remove “clout” from the office of State Treasurer, his record is laced with reports of patronage, clout and ghost-payrolling that ended up costing taxpayers over $100,000.
CURT DEEDRICH
Frerichs Flexes Clout to Get Campaign Manager A Job
The Deedrich appointment three years ago stemmed from the dual desire of county board Democrats both to flex their newfound political muscle by filling county jobs with patronage appointments and to satisfy current state Sen. Mike Frerichs’ desire to find a good job for his former campaign manager. So in a controversial decision, board Democrats passed over a better-qualified employee in the supervisor of assessments office and named Deedrich to what had been a nonpolitical post. (“Deedrich Follies Are County Board’s Doing,” The Champaign News-Gazette, 6/10/07)
The Results Of Frerichs’ Patronage Program Called “A Disaster”
But he’s been such a disaster that it’s unlikely Deedrich will win reappointment when his term expires next year. That’s assuming he hasn’t been fired by then. (“County Positions Should Be Filled On Merit, Not Loyalty,” The Champaign News-Gazette, 4/6/07)
TONY FABRI
Frerichs Pushes Fabri For County Auditor Post
Fabri had the backing of two former auditors at the meeting, Frerichs and Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing. (“Champaign County Democrats Nominate Fabri For Auditor,” The Champaign News-Gazette, 1/4/07)
Fabri Decides He Doesn’t Need To Show Up For Work
County government telephone records indicate that Champaign County Auditor Tony Fabri has been missing from his office for well over half the workdays in the last year, including two different periods when he apparently was gone for more than a month. (“Phone Records Show County Auditor Frequently Absent,” The Champaign News-Gazette, 3/15/09)
And Frerichs Gives Fabri Advice On How To Avoid Ghost-Pay Rolling Criticism
Fabri said Frerichs, who preceded him as county auditor, warned there might be sniping about his attendance at work. “He said that when you start hearing complaints to just walk around Brookens and say ‘Hi’ to everyone and make sure that they see you,” Fabri recounted. (“Phone Records Show County Auditor Frequently Absent,” The Champaign News-Gazette, 3/15/09)
Frerichs Admits Fabri Doesn’t Show Up For Work And Doesn’t Do A Good Job, But Urges Voters To Support Him Anyway
Frerichs, a longtime ally of Fabri’s, urged voters to look beyond the charges of absenteeism against Fabri … “I’m not saying that the current auditor shows up every day and does the best job. (“Voters To Decide Whether To Keep Elected Auditor,” The Champaign News-Gazette, 3/29/11)
“Mike Frerichs’ past is filled with the exact same problems he’s claiming he’ll fix in the Treasurer’s office,” Schneider said. “But actions speak louder than words, and Mike Frerichs’ record paints a clearer picture than his campaign promises.”
