New Gardiner Ethics Probe

Heather Cherone | January 24, 2023 4:25 pm

Chicago Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th Ward) is once again under investigation by the city’s watchdog, this time facing allegations he harassed a group of people collecting petition signatures for one of his opponents in November.

During the Nov. 26 altercation, which was partly captured by a nearby doorbell camera, the alderperson was seen yelling at and walking toward a volunteer for candidate Marija Tomic, saying they should “run a clean campaign” and “know what you’re talking about,” according to the video.

The Chicago Board of Ethics voted unanimously on Dec. 12 to ask Inspector General Deborah Witzburg to probe the incident, which was first reported by The People’s Fabric, an anonymously run blog that focuses on Far Northwest Side politics.