Will County Gazette

Dan Rose of LFI Real Estate has accused Mayor Keith Ogle of violating Illinois election law by allegedly using village assets for personal political gain. Rose described the alleged violation as "the icing on the cake" and said it was "illegal for a good reason." He made these remarks to the Will County Gazette on March 6 after filing an official complaint.

"I don't feel great worrying about sign issues, but when the mayor attacks others and doesn't follow his own rules, it's a problem," said Rose, Founder of LFI Energy. "Using Village assets for his own political gain is just icing on the cake - not to mention, illegal for a good reason. Something needs to change, and fast."

According to the complaint filed by Rose, Mayor Ogle is accused of breaching Illinois campaign finance laws by incorporating the Village of Frankfort’s official logo in his promotional materials. These materials reportedly included a call to action encouraging viewers to #reelectkeithogle and follow the Instagram account @mayorkeithogle for updates. The use of the official village logo is considered an improper use of public resources for political purposes.

The alleged violation pertains to ILCS 5/9-25.1, a provision within the Illinois Election Code that prohibits using public funds, property, or resources—such as government logos, property, or personnel—for political purposes. According to the Illinois General Assembly, this law aims to prevent public resources from being used to support or promote any political campaign, candidate, or party. Under this statute, using a public entity's official logo in campaign materials is generally prohibited unless explicitly authorized.

Rose expressed his disapproval by stating to the Will County Gazette: "Rules for thee and not for me. That’s just un-American."

The upcoming mayoral election in Frankfort, Illinois, scheduled for April 1, 2025, will see incumbent Mayor Keith Ogle facing challenger Justin Ozinga. Ogle has served as mayor since 2021 and previously held positions as Village Trustee and Clerk. Ozinga, a longtime resident of Frankfort and co-owner of Ozinga Bros., Inc., is campaigning on a platform focused on increased government transparency and economic development. A "Meet the Candidates" event is planned for March 11, 2025, at CD & ME in Frankfort, according to the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce.

Dan Rose serves as principal and director of retail development at LFI Real Estate. In addition to founding LFI Energy in 2016, he currently sits on the board of Petram LLC where he contributes to investment strategy and business development.