In a move marking yet another chapter in the storied tension between the Windy City’s executive office and its ethical watchdog, Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg has decided to forego the pursuit of a second term. This announcement, as reported by Chicago Sun-Times, comes amidst a backdrop of widespread ethics reforms aimed at bolstering the independence of the Office of Inspector General (OIG).
Witzburg’s departure underscores a historical pattern of rocky relationships, often culminating in high-drama exits, between Chicago’s mayors and their appointed inspectors general. During her tenure, she clashed with Mayor Brandon Johnson over ethics issues, and while the chances of reappointment by the mayor seemed slim, Witzburg voiced her contentment in leaving the OIG in a better state. “I am very confident in a way I wasn’t before that I can leave this place better than I found it, I will have done what I came here to do,” Witzburg told the Sun-Times.
The newly approved ethics ordinance, which Witzburg herself had a hand in shaping, expands the inspector general’s access to city records and limits the circumstances under which city lawyers can be present during investigative interviews. These changes represent a significant victory for the OIG’s pursuit of increased autonomy. In a statement highlighted by CBS News Chicago, Witzburg expressed her anticipation for the near-future endeavors of the office, right up until April, when she plans to “happily pass a more effective, more independent OIG along to its next steward.”…