A new Cook County public service campaign surprised some county commissioners and led to an ethics investigation.
Page 36 of Wednesday's Chicago Sun-Times had a full-page ad promoting the county's flood relief grant program.
It showed photos of four Cook County commissioners, including Peter Silvestri, who said he had no idea the ad was made.
The problem was the ad violated an ethics law Silvestri helped write, which prohibited the use of names and photos of elected officials in county-sponsored public service campaigns when the politicians have filed for re-election.
"I thought to myself, I guess I’m part of a violation of the ethics ordinance that I introduced." Silvestri said. "I'd just like to find out who authorized it without first of all finding what the rules are. And second, checking with the people whose pictures they're plastering on it."
A county spokesman told FOX News Chicago the board of ethics has launched an investigation into who placed the ad and why they didn't pay attention to the law.
The ad cost the county $7,200. The money apparently came from a state disaster grant.
