Former IDOT Official Accused Of Using Post To Get NASCAR Tickets

By Samantha Abernethy in News on May 11, 2012 9:40PM

A former Illinois Department of Transportation official is accused of misusing his post in the department to get passes to NASCAR events. The inspector general's office recommended disciplinary action against Michael Stout, 58, for engaging "in behavoir that could undermine citizens' confidence in state government.

The report shows Stout requested passes to events on behalf of IDOT, then handed them off to non-department workers.

The Sun-Times writes:

“Plainly said, Mr. Stout sought to look like a ‘big shot,’” the report stated.

He told investigators that those citizens were, in fact, conducting transportation department business at the Speedway “by wearing IDOT t-shirts and participating in an awards presentation,” the report states.

Stout left IDOT in December after eight years with IDOT. He was previously in hot water in 2004 after 16 state workers accused him of firing them because they were Republicans.