From the State Journal-Register:

Hasara's fund

By Bernard Schoenburg
Political Columnist

State law changed a few years back so that state or local politicians could no longer convert campaign money to private use unless to pay for actual services to the campaign - though there was an exception for existing political committees.

The law states that a candidate or his or her family can receive money from their own fund up to the amount that was in the fund as of June 30,1998.

On that date, Springfield Mayor KAREN HASARA had $223,330 in her fund. As of the latest six-month reporting period, the mayor had just under $219,000 in her fund. That means that, legally, Hasara could keep it all, merely paying taxes on it as income, after she retires.

She had raised nearly $72,000 during that last six-month period, which ended June 30, 2002.

When she announced her decision not to seek re-election, Hasara said she would probably write letters to people who have donated over the last couple of years to ask if they want refunds.

"I haven't even checked into what the rules are yet," she added last week. "And I have five months in office, and I'm sure we'll be taking out ads and spending some of it. So I'll just wait till I leave office and see what my options are."