Former Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas was fined $214,000 for violating campaign finance rules by accepting excessive donations from individuals doing business with the city.
The Chicago Board of Ethics unanimously found that Paul Vallas violated the rules by accepting $202,000 in contributions during the 2023 city election from 12 individuals doing business with the city, the board announced Tuesday.
Vallas confirmed he was the candidate and called the fine “inappropriate and suspect.”
“We, of course, will appeal the ruling,” Vallas said in a statement.
Vallas claimed he received over 2,000 individual contributions to the Vallas for Mayor campaign and said the largest contribution he received was “the $50,000 made by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.”
Under city law, donations from people doing business with the city are capped at $1,500 annually for candidates seeking city office and elected officials. The board said Vallas failed to issue refunds to all 12 donors.
Deborah Witzburg, who stepped down as the city’s inspector general last month, brought the matter before the board on Dec. 23 and requested a finding of probable cause. The board said Witzburg’s office found that one donor did not seek a refund from Vallas’ campaign, while the other 11 donors did request refunds.
Vallas lost to Mayor Brandon Johnson in the 2023 election after receiving about 270,000 votes, falling short by fewer than 20,000 votes. He is an education and financial consultant who previously served as CEO of Chicago Public Schools under former Mayor Richard M. Daley.
The fine also includes $1,000 for each of the 12 violations.
According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, Vallas’ campaign remains active but has no available assets and carries about $23,600 in debt.
The board said it plans to submit a proposal to the City Council to amend the rules so candidates who violate campaign finance laws would be required to pay their fines through any future political committee they form while running for elected office.