Springfield mayoral challenger Misty Buscher is accusing Mayor Jim Langfelder of “pay-to-play” politics.
Buscher made her statement in response to a report in the Illinois Times that Langfelder’s administration forgave $42,000 in debts owed by someone who later donated to Langfelder’s campaign.
Buscher says the incident does not appear to violate any state law or city ordinance, but says it is “morally and ethically wrong.”
She says it shows the need both for more transparency in the city’s handling of debts, and for a requirement that the City Council must approve any debt forgiveness over $10,000.
Langfelder says he did not know the property owner and was not involved in the debt forgiveness – and says once he learned about it, he returned the donation.
