The Chicago Board of Ethics voted unanimously to fine Ald. Derrick Curtis $1,000 for violating the city’s ethics ordinance by using his official city of Chicago email account to advertise Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s reelection kickoff.
Curtis, a Lightfoot ally, sent an email on June 2 to residents of his Far South Side ward that included an advertisement for the mayor’s re-election kickoff event at the Starlight Restaurant on June 8. The newsletter included an image that invited 100 residents to reserve a spot at a “supporter breakfast” by contacting Curtis’ ward office on a first-come, first-served basis.
After a citizen complaint, the board unanimously found that there was probable cause to conclude an elected official violated the city’s ethics ordinance by including “campaign-related content in an official ward newsletter, emailed from a cityofchicago.org email address, contrary to clear board guidance on the improper mixing of political and official content in newsletters and websites that was sent to all city elected officials in January 2020.
Curtis could have faced a maximum fine of $5,000. The board’s discussion of the incident took place behind closed doors, also in keeping with its rules.Curtis told WTTW News June 13 that the email was sent from his personal email account and was not an official ward communication. Curtis did not respond after WTTW News shared a copy of the email that came from his city email account that included the information about the mayor’s political event.
While the board refers complaints that require a probe to the city’s inspector general, it can act in cases that do not require a “factual investigation” and where an ethics violation is apparent. The board’s rules require the elected official’s name be kept confidential.
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