Chicago Ethics Panel Struggles With Empty Leadership Posts
Chicago's Board of Ethics has gone more than a year without a permanent chair, and its longtime executive director retired at the end of August. Two board members' terms also expired last month, leaving the panel short-handed. The mayor has yet to name replacements, and the inspector general has urged setting firm deadlines.
The panel's leadership vacuum stems from multiple simultaneous departures. Former Chair William Conlon stepped down in July 2025, and Vice Chair Ryan Cortazar has been presiding since then, though his own term expired last month alongside member Sarah Jin. Executive Director Steve Berlin retired at the end of August after urging the mayor to appoint Deputy Director Lauren Maniatis as his successor.
Acting Executive Director Karisa Flores currently holds the position, but the mayor has not yet made permanent appointments despite an expected September timeline. The inspector general has pushed for binding deadlines in the city's ethics ordinance, yet the version before City Council next week contains no such provisions, leaving the board's future staffing uncertain.
A short-staffed ethics board could weaken oversight of city officials and lobbying activity during a period of transition, potentially delaying investigations or reducing public confidence in accountability mechanisms. Residents and government watchdogs may feel the impact most acutely if vacancies persist, as enforcement gaps tend to surface only after controversies arise. The lack of firm deadlines suggests this situation could continue indefinitely, though the City Council's upcoming ordinance vote offers a possible intervention point.