Two candidates for Champaign mayor say the traveling they did at taxpayer expense during 2014 brought back benefits that made them well worth the thousands of dollars they cost.

The News-Gazette filed Freedom of Information Act requests for 2014 reimbursement records for the four candidates for Champaign mayor: Deb Frank Feinen, Karen Foster and Don Gerard from the city of Champaign, and for Joe Petry from the Champaign Park District. The four, all elected officials, are running against one another in the April 7 election…