| Topic: | IMRF Board |
| Subtopic: | Election Ethics |
| Date: | 5/29/2026 |
| Status: | Active |
WHEREAS, section 7-198 of the Illinois Pension Code authorizes the Board of Trustees of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) to establish rules necessary or desirable for the efficient administration of the Fund; and
WHEREAS, section 7-175(e) of the Illinois Pension Code authorizes the Board of Trustees to establish rules governing the conduct of elections for trustee;
WHEREAS, active Trustees are participating employees in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund who have a vital interest in the election of Trustees to serve on the Board; and
WHEREAS, it is the obligation of the Board of Trustees to the municipalities and their participating employees to ensure that they are kept correctly informed about the Fund’s activities; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the members of the Board to delineate between their duties and responsibilities as Board Members and their rightful activities in campaigning for themselves or others for Trustees’ positions; and
WHEREAS, it is desirable to establish ethics rules regarding IMRF’s staff conduct during elections.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
Board of Trustees
- The Board of Trustees recognizes that every Board Member has the right to campaign either for himself or any other candidate for office in a Trustee election.
- Trustees agree to campaign as individual Board Members and to clearly indicate that their endorsement or support of any candidate is in their individual capacities and their endorsement and support does not constitute Board endorsement of any particular candidate.
- Trustees agree to refrain from making any representation as to the endorsement or support of any candidate, or absence thereof, by other Trustees.
- The Board shall issue a memorandum to the municipalities and/or participating employees whenever a majority of the members agree, by either telephone or a duly called Board Meeting, that there is a need to correct misleading information regarding the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund elections.
IMRF Staff
IMRF staff members are prohibited from using their position as an IMRF staff member to campaign for or against any candidate for trustee. No campaign activity for a trustee candidate, such as passing out literature, advocating for the candidate’s election, or soliciting petition signatures, shall be done during work hours.
IMRF staff may not provide support or information to any candidate that is not available to all other candidates.