'Highly Questionable': Advocacy Center Criticizes Skokie Ethics Investigation

SKOKIE, IL — Non-partisan non-profit organization the Citizen Advocacy Center criticized a recent postponement of a hearing to determine the outcome of an ethics complaint against Skokie Village Clerk candidate James Jonson, calling the delay "highly questionable."

The complaint stems from times Johnson gave public comments during board meetings while they served as Trustee.

According to the Skokie Ethics Code, any complaint filed less than 60 days before an election is required to be reviewed within seven days. The complaint was submitted at the end of February, according to complainant Elline Eliasoff.

Originally, the complaint was scheduled to be determined on March 19, but a last-minute amendment filed on March 24 pushed the hearing until the day after Election Day in Skokie, April 2.

Related coverage : Ethics Commission Investigates Complaint Against Skokie Candidate

The Citizen Advocacy Center (CAC) is an organization aimed at encouraging community members to take action and participate in local democracy. The organization does not endorse political candidates.

In response to the postponement of the hearing for the complaint against Johnson, the CAC issued a statement.

"Any decisions emanating from the Skokie Ethics Commission, including postponing a hearing until the day after a political campaign that results in a flurry of headlines about a trustee 'under investigation' are, at minimum, highly questionable," the CAC said in a statement.

In 2024 the CAC conducted an independent analysis to address concerns that the Skokie Ethics Commission was operating out of compliance with local ordinance. Robert Kusel, the resident who reached out to the CAC at the time, said he was concerned about an apparent conflict of interest on the Ethics Commission.

In the analysis, the CAC claimed the current Chairman of the Ethics Commission was appointed to the position based on personal friendships rather than qualifications.

"[The CAC's} recent statement illuminates a deeply troubled Ethics Commission. It should be immediately disbanded and all findings regarding Trustee Johnson must be vacated," Kusel told Patch.

This week, the Skokie Plan Commission signed an affidavit in support of the ethics complaint, stating they believed Johnson was attempting to cause commissioners to act outside the scope of their duties by giving public comment.

The complaint alleged Johnson's actions while giving comment violated Skokie Municipal Code §2-381, which says “No legislator may engage in conduct which is unbecoming to a legislator or which constitutes a breach of public trust.”

In every instance that Johnson took the stand to give public comment, they maintain their campaign for Village Clerk was not mentioned.