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James M. Gardiner (born April 17, 1976) is a Chicago politician and firefighter who serves as the alderman for the 45th ward in the Chicago City Council. Elected to the Chicago City Council in 2019, Gardiner identified as a political independent; however, he would later switch to the Democratic Party and currently serves as the 45th Ward Democratic Committeeperson.

Since his time in office, Gardiner has become embroiled in several controversies, including an abuse of power lawsuit, alleged ethics violations, and using misogynistic language.

Background

Gardiner was born on April 17, 1976, to Irish immigrant parents, the youngest of seven children. He graduated from Notre Dame High School and from Saint Xavier University in 2002 with a degree in teaching. Gardiner is a firefighter with the Chicago Fire Department, but has taken a leave of absence.

Political career

In the February 2019 Chicago City Council election, Gardiner defeated incumbent John Arena, obtaining 50.9% of the vote to Arena's 36.2%. Gardiner was elected to the 45th Ward Democratic Committeeperson position in March 2020, defeating challenger Ellen Hill by 292 votes.

Gardiner is a member of the Democratic Party, but identified as an independent before 2019. Gardiner believes in the legalization and taxation of recreational marijuana. Gardiner is not in favor of an increase in property taxes, municipal taxes, and real estate transfer taxes. He is also not in favor of the LaSalle Street Tax. Gardiner does not believe stricter gun control laws will reduce the amount of illegal firearms, but believes educating the youth on the dangers of illegal guns will help reduce gun violence. When campaigning, Gardiner said he believes in keeping Chicago a sanctuary city, and preventing the Chicago Police Department from detaining illegal immigrants, however, on January 27, 2021, Gardiner was one of eight Aldermen to vote against strengthening the City's Welcoming City ordinance.

In the 2023 aldermanic election, Gardiner faced five challengers. Prior to the election, Axios noted that Gardiner could be helped by a redistricting that made his district more conservative. The Chicago Tribune endorsed Megan Mathias in the election. In the general election, Gardiner received 48% of the votes, resulting in a runoff between him and Mathias, who was second place and received 16.86% of the vote. Gardiner won the runoff with 55.22% of the vote.

Controversies and legal issues

Justin Kaufman wrote in Axios that Gardiner is the "most controversial alder in the council."

In November 2020, Gardiner was sued for alleged abuse of power and false arrest of a ward resident. Gardiner's co-defendants include 45th Ward Superintendent Charles Sikanich and seven Chicago police officers. The lawsuit alleges that Gardiner used his capacity as an alderman to have a construction worker arrested after he found a ward workers cell phone that was mistakenly left at a 7-Eleven; in March 2022, a federal judge green lighted the lawsuit to continue. The City of Chicago ultimately paid a $100,000 fine as a result of this lawsuit.

Federal officials are investigating allegations that Gardiner has taken bribes and demanded payments for actions. No charges have cemented from the investigation.

In 2021, a federal lawsuit was filed, Czosnyka v. Gardiner: 21-cv-3240, alleging that Gardiner violated the First Amendment by blocking critics from his official Facebook page. The lawsuit highlighted issues of free speech and the right of constituents to engage with their elected officials on social media. in 2023 federal judge Sharon Johnson Coleman ruled that Gardiner's actions violated the First Amendment, marking a significant victory for plaintiffs in the case.

In September 2021, private text messages between Gardiner and Alderman Scott Waguespack revealed Gardiner using disparaging and misogynistic language to describe Waguespack's female chief of staff. The comments were condemned by many Chicago political leaders, including Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Gardiner apologized for the statements.

In July 2023, the Board of Ethics found probable cause that Gardiner violated the Government Ethics Ordinance, according to sources of Block Club Chicago and Chicago Sun-Times. The charges stem from an investigation by the Chicago inspector general, and it's the first-time probable cause has been established in an investigation related to an alderman. In 2019, Gardiner allegedly, in an act of retaliation, directed city employees to give a $600 citation to a political opponent for overgrown weeds and rodents at the man's residence. Gardiner was fined $20,000 by the Board of Ethics.

See also

• List of Chicago aldermen since 1923

References

1. "45th Ward | Alderman James M. Gardiner | Chicago". Official 45th Ward. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
2. ^ Minnis, Glenn. "No shortage of potential Arena challengers in 45th Ward". chicagocitywire.com. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
3. "Jim Gardiner". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
4. "Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago". chicagoelections.gov. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
5. Board, CST Editorial (27 January 2019). "45th Ward candidat for alderman: James "Jim" Gardiner". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
6. ^ Board, CST Editorial (27 January 2019). "45th Ward candidat for alderman: James "Jim" Gardiner". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
7. Spielman, Fran (2021-01-27). "City Council eliminates carve-outs to strengthen Welcoming City ordinance". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
8. ^ Kaufmann, Justin (22 February 2023). "Chicago voting guide: City Council". Axios. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
9. "Editorial: Our choices for City Council: Wards 45-50". Chicago Tribune. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
10. Bauer, Kelly (15 March 2023). "Ald. Jim Gardiner Is Headed To A Runoff Against Megan Mathias In 45th Ward Race". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
11. Parrella-Aureli, Ariel (5 April 2023). "Ald. Jim Gardiner Wins Reelection In Far Northwest Side's 45th Ward". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
12. Schuba, Tom (2020-11-24). "After picking up lost phone, construction worker claims he was wrongfully arrested, harassed by Chicago alderman". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
13. "Big issues in Gardiner's reelection bid in 45th Ward are crime, development — and Gardiner himself". Chicago Sun-Times. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
14. "Judge allows harassment suit over lost cellphone to go forward against embattled Ald. Jim Gardiner". Chicago Tribune. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
15. "Feds Probe Gardiner for Bribery, Pay-to-Play: Sources". WTTW News. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
16. "FBI: Gardiner got developer who'd been 'good to me' ticket to Lightfoot reform inaugural in suspected bribery scheme". Chicago Sun-Times. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
17. "Czosnyka v. Gardiner, 21-cv-3240 | Casetext Search + Citator". casetext.com. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
18. Dudek, Mitch (3 September 2021). "Alderman goes on apology tour after leak of profane texts". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
19. "Ald. Jim Gardiner Calls Constituent And Fellow Alderman A 'B-tch,' Rips His Critics In Leaked Text Messages". Block Club Chicago. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
20. "Ald. Jim Gardiner fined $20,000 for retaliating against critic - CBS Chicago". www.cbsnews.com. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
21. "Lori Lightfoot, Ald. Jim Gardiner accused of ethics violations that could trigger fines". Chicago Sun-Times. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
22. Parrella-Aureli, Ariel (14 July 2023). "Ald. Jim Gardiner Violated Ethics Rules By Slapping Outspoken Critic With 'Unfounded' Ticket, Watchdog Says". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 2 August 2023.

• 1976 births
• 21st-century Illinois politicians
• 21st-century American firefighters
• Chicago City Council members
• Illinois independents
• Living people