Lyons Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg has released surveillance footage showing her kissing Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek on the lips for two seconds, describing the act as a "lighthearted, friendly and non-romantic moment among colleagues." Hoffenberg, a Democrat running for Cook County Commissioner, stated she released the video in the "interest of transparency" after alleging her political opponents attempted to extort her regarding the footage.
The incident, which occurred on July 13 in the township clerk's office, was captured by security cameras. The video shows Hoffenberg and Landek engaged in conversation before Landek places his hands on her face and kisses her. Hoffenberg, who is married, appears to smile and tilt her head into the kiss, continuing to converse with Landek afterward.
Hoffenberg claims that immediately after the kiss, she told Landek the gesture was "inappropriate and unprofessional," and that he subsequently apologized. She is married to Jeff Hoffenberg, a managing partner at a Chicago law firm and a La Grange Plan Commission member. The couple have multiple children.
According to Hoffenberg, Republican Liz Gorman, her opponent for the Cook County Board seat, and Democrat Lyons Township Supervisor Chris Getty are involved in a political smear campaign. Hoffenberg alleges that Getty improperly accessed the surveillance footage and leaked information about it to Gorman. She further claims that her opponents threatened to release the video unless she ended her campaign.
Gorman has denied these allegations, stating "There was absolutely no extortion." The controversy began when Gorman filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on August 13 for surveillance footage from the township clerk's office. Initially, Hoffenberg denied the request, citing it as "unduly burdensome" due to the volume of footage. Gorman then submitted a more specific request, which Hoffenberg found suspicious and led her to believe the footage had been accessed without authorization.
Hoffenberg filed a complaint with the Illinois attorney general's office, requesting an investigation into the alleged leak. This followed calls for an emergency meeting by three township trustees to discuss allegations of surveillance and harassment. The meeting was scheduled but later canceled.
Gorman stated she received a "cherry picked" version of the footage after Hoffenberg had already shared it with the Chicago Tribune. Getty, denying Hoffenberg's allegations of leaking information, stated he advised Hoffenberg to comply with producing public documents.