CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Northwest Side Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th) has been hit with a $20,000 fine for ethics violations.
The Chicago Board of Ethics fined Gardiner for retaliating against a frequent critic by issuing unfounded citations of more than $600.
The alderman claimed the man — a resident of Gardiner's ward — had excessive weeds that led to a rodent infestation, but the case was eventually dropped. Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg, the City's watchdog, requested the board issue the violation.
Witzburg said it's the first time an Office of the Inspector General investigation has resulted in a punishment for a sitting elected official.
The board found Gardiner committed 10 total violations of Chicago's Governmental Ethics Ordinance.
This isn't the first time Gardiner's been reprimanded for his actions as alderman.
In September, a federal judge ruled that Gardiner violated the First Amendment when he blocked constituents from his Facebook page and deleted negative comments about him.
That case will move forward to determine if Gardiner must pay damages.
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