Councilor Ethics Violations and Discipline
Ethics Board findings against Councilor Mallard and debate over Councilor Leonard's ICE remarks led to sanctions discussion and deferral.
Ethics Board findings against Councilor Mallard prompted a July 13, 2026 City Council discussion that produced consensus on a training penalty to be formalized later. At the same meeting, Councilor Leonard's prior ICE remarks triggered debate over possible ethics violations or referral but were deferred to a future session.
The issue of Councilor ethics violations and discipline originated with an Ethics Board investigation into Councilor Mallard, which concluded that Mallard had violated section 33-1 of the standards of conduct code while finding no violations on ex parte communications or other provisions.
On July 13, 2026, the City Council took up the Ethics Board's recommendations and debated appropriate penalties under either existing code provisions or proposed new options such as training or committee removal.
Councilors reached consensus to direct staff to prepare a formal order imposing training with the Legal Department as the penalty, with the matter slated to return for a vote.
Separately at the same meeting, the Council addressed potential discipline or Ethics Board referral for Councilor Leonard stemming from remarks made at the June 22 meeting characterizing ICE facilities as "concentration camps."
Leonard defended the comments as factual and non-partisan, while others questioned whether they constituted ethics code violations or raised issues of decorum and the Chair's handling of the matter.
Due to time constraints, the Council deferred full discussion of Leonard's case to a future meeting or special workshop rather than resolving it immediately.
Mallard penalty order expected to return for formal vote in approximately two weeks; Leonard matter to be revisited at a future meeting or special workshop.
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