The Chicago Board of Ethics voted to fine South Side Ald. Derrick Curtis $1,000 for using his city email account to invite residents to a campaign breakfast for Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
The board voted to fine Curtis on Monday. They did not name Curtis, who represents the 18th Ward, but the pattern of facts released in the board’s probable cause statement fit conduct first reported by the Tribune in June.
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Using a city account, Curtis emailed residents with an invitation to join Lightfoot’s campaign for a breakfast on June 8, a day after she officially announced her bid for a second term. Officials aren’t allowed to to mix politics with city business.
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The breakfast stop was staffed by several 18th Ward employees, who wore T-shirts with the city logo as they worked the political event. City ethics rules forbid employees doing political work on the public dime. Afterward, Curtis told the Tribune he shut down his ward office to run the event. He was not fined for that.
Curtis did not immediately return a message seeking comment. The fine was first reported by WTTW.
Curtis is one of a handful of aldermen who have endorsed Lightfoot for re-election next year.
