Lightfoot calls CPS teacher emails a ‘mistake’

This story was co-published with The TRiiBE.

Today, Mayor Lori Lightfoot told The TRiiBE that it was a mistake for a member of her campaign  to send emails to Chicago Public School teachers to encourage them to help with her re-election campaign in exchange for school credit. 

On Wednesday evening, Mayor Lightfoot’s campaign came under fire after asking Chicago Public School (CPS) teachers to encourage students to help her get re-elected in exchange for school credit. WTTW Politics Reporter Heather Cherone first reported the story. 

“Late yesterday afternoon, I learned that in an effort to recruit young people to the campaign . . . a campaign staffer accessed publicly available email addresses for CPS teachers,” Lightfoot said in a one-on-one interview with The TRiiBE before a Thursday afternoon press conference. “Obviously, that was a mistake. From day one, we erected not just a line but a wall, between the campaign political side and any official side,” she said. 

The campaign staffer “understands the magnitude of the issue that has been created,” Lightfoot added.

“I explained to her personally why this could not happen, and what the implications were. I think she gets it. We have reiterated our ethics standards, and why that wall is important to the entire staff again today.”

“It was a mistake, it shouldn’t happen. And I’m confident that won’t happen again.”

Mayoral candidates such as Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas were quick to issue statements condemning the emails. Alderpersons Daniel LaSpata, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez and Byron Sigcho-Lopez issued a joint statement today that characterized the emails as “coercion of government employees to support her re-election campaign.”

On Thursday, CPS inspector general Will Fletcher announced an investigation of the incident. “[W]e are currently gathering information to determine which, if any, policies have been violated,” he told WGN News. 

The district has ethics guidelines for political activity. They state, “A political campaign should not be using the CPS email system to solicit volunteers and donations. Please report the behavior and forward the emails to Ethics Advisor.”

The Chicago Board of Ethics plans to discuss the matter at its next meeting, scheduled for Jan. 23, according to WTTW. 

Lightfoot said it is unclear how many emails were sent to CPS teachers. 

Lightfoot will host a press conference at 3:00 pm with reporters. 

This is a breaking news story; stay tuned for updates.

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