Stealing from the State, it's the Chicago Democrat way

Member of Emanuel transition team resigns

A member of Chicago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel’s transition team is resigning over an ethics violation at a previous job.

Judy Erwin told the Chicago Tribune Friday she plans to resign to avoid any “distractions” for Emanuel.

Erwin was executive director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education. She’s admitted using her office phone and e-mail while working for President Barack Obama’s campaign in 2008.

The state’s Executive Ethics Commission says in a report filed Feb. 16 that Erwin cooperated with investigators, paid a $4,000 fine and promised never to work for the state again. She resigned in August.

Erwin says she never told Emanuel about the violation.

Emanuel spokesman Ben LaBolt says the campaign didn’t know about the ethics report when Emanuel named Erwin to his transition team on Thursday.