Politics

Chicago Board of Ethics Names 8 Alderpeople, 71 Total Employees Who Filed Ethics Statements Late

The Chicago Board of Ethics identified 71 employees and officeholders who filed yearly statements of financial interest after the annual statutory deadline. The list included eight alderpeople, an increase from the previous year.

Records show the list of alderpeople who filed late consists of Gregory Mitchell (7th Ward); Stephanie Coleman (16th Ward); Matt O’Shea (19th Ward); Mike Rodriguez (22nd Ward); Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward); Walter “Red” Burnett (27th Ward); Anthony Quezada (35th Ward); and Timmy Knudsen (43rd Ward). 

All alderpeople committed an ethics violation but were not fined, records show.

The city ethics ordinance governs the conduct of all city employees and officials, addressing issues such as conflicts of interest, outside employment, gifts, business travel, hiring relatives and political activity. Much of this makes up the information included in the annual statements.

The city’s disclosure and ethics requirements apply broadly to elected and most appointed officials, as well as mayor’s office and City Council staff who perform more than purely clerical duties. They also cover candidates for city office, certain contractors and a wide range of city employees in leadership, policy-making, financial, public safety and supervisory roles, including those with contracting, licensing or oversight authority.

The ethics board publishes an annual list of people who missed the filing deadline. Submissions were due May 1 and the board may fine people up to $250 per day for late filings.

By law, the board cannot assess fines until it gives apparent violators seven business days to try to justify the reporting delay. 

Half of the alderpeople did not respond to questions from WTTW News about their missed filing date. Some acknowledged it.

“I just screwed up and got it in late,” Rodriguez said, expressing regret about the mistake.

A staff member for Quezada said in an email the late submission by the alderperson was an unintentional oversight, and apologized for the delay. Sigcho-Lopez also acknowledged his late submission.

Burnett chalked it up to inexperience, calling it a “technical newbie error.” 

“It was sent the following morning after the deadline,” Burnett said. “I thought the email had been sent, but it was not.”

Coleman, who represents Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Gage Park, New City and West Englewood, has not filed her disclosure before the deadline since 2021, records show.

A spokesperson for Coleman did not respond to questions about the delays connected to her statement of financial interest.

Other notable names filing late include Kennedy Bartley, chief of external affairs in the Mayor’s Office, John Arena, former 45th Ward alderperson and current director at the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and two Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability district chairs, Carmelita Earls and David Boykin, records show.

Bartley and Earls were fined, according to the release.

In 2025, the board named 96 people who failed to submit timely filings including seven alderpeople.

Contact Jared Rutecki: @JaredRutecki | [email protected]

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