Lyons Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg has released surveillance footage showing her kissing Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek, a move she says preempts an alleged blackmail attempt by political opponents. Hoffenberg, a Democrat running for Cook County Commissioner, stated that rivals threatened to leak the video unless she ended her campaign.
The video, which was first published by the Chicago Tribune, depicts Hoffenberg and Landek inside the Lyons Township clerk’s office on July 13. In the footage, Hoffenberg appears to smile after the kiss before they exit the frame.
Hoffenberg has described the encounter as a "lighthearted, friendly and non-romantic moment among colleagues." She stated that immediately after the kiss, she told Landek the gesture was "inappropriate and unprofessional," and that he subsequently apologized. Hoffenberg is married to lawyer Jeff Hoffenberg.
Hoffenberg has accused Republican Liz Gorman, who filed Freedom of Information Act requests for the video on August 3, of orchestrating the alleged blackmail plot. She also implicated Lyons Township supervisor Chris Getty, a Democrat running as an independent for Congress, in the plan to obtain the footage for damaging purposes.
Gorman has denied the allegations, stating she never contacted Hoffenberg or demanded anything in exchange for withholding the video, according to media reports.
Hoffenberg affirmed her commitment to her campaign, saying, "I am staying focused on my campaign to bring strong leadership to this community, and I look forward to continuing this work." She indicated that she would not be intimidated by what she characterized as "old-school politics of harassment."