On January 12, 2023, Parents Defending Education filed an ethics complaint with the City of Chicago Board of Ethics against Mayor Lori Lightfoot and her deputy campaign manager, Megan Crane. DE claims they broke the city’s Governmental Ethics Ordinance, which limits how city officials and candidates can use city resources for political campaigns.
As WTTW reported in “Lightfoot Campaign Asks CPS Teachers to Encourage Students to Help Her Win Reelection in Return for Credit,” Crane sent an email to Chicago Public Schools teachers at their official cps.edu work accounts. It asked teachers to encourage students to join the campaign’s “externship program,” which expected students to work 12 hours a week for the campaign in return for “class credit.”
The complaint argues that this broke the ordinance’s ban on using city property for political activity unless fair market value is paid. Offering students “class credit” may break ordinance rules on gifts and favors.
Defending Education urges the Board of Ethics to investigate every claim in its complaint, fix these illegal practices, and order the right remedies.
Read the full complaint and related evidence below:
