Lyons Township 'Ghost Payroll,' Girlfriend Trips Alleged

LA GRANGE, IL – Lyons Township's supervisor has used his position to create a "ghost payroll" and pay for his girlfriend to travel, the township's clerk told police last month.

On Aug. 22, Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg and her husband, Jeff Hoffenberg, visited the La Grange police station to allege they were victims of harassment.

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They suggested Supervisor Christopher Getty, who is also the mayor of Lyons, was responsible. Both Hoffenberg and Getty are elected township officials.

In response to a Patch inquiry Wednesday, Getty disputed Hoffenberg's allegations.

"The police report submitted by Hoffenberg is full of false accusations," said Getty, who is running for Congress as an independent. "She continues to let down our community with her wild actions and statements. Moreover, it is unlawful to file a false police report."

Jeff Hoffenberg, Elyse Hoffenberg's husband, takes part as a member of the Plan Commission during a July meeting. He joined his wife to file a report at the La Grange police station last month. (Village of La Grange/via video)

Getty had no other comments on the report.

In a statement to Patch last week, Hoffenberg said she filed a police report in La Grange, where she lives. Patch then filed a request for the report, which the village granted.

She did not return Patch's request for comment Wednesday.

'Corrupt things'

According to the police report, Hoffenberg alleged that Getty has done "corrupt things such as having his brother-in-law on a ghost payroll, paying for his girlfriend to travel, etc."

This week, Patch filed a public records request with the township for documentation backing up Hoffenberg's allegations. As the clerk, she handles such requests.

Hoffenberg, who is running for the Cook County Board, made headlines recently when she released surveillance video of longtime Democratic power broker Steve Landek kissing her in her office.

Hoffenberg was prompted to do so after a records request from Liz Gorman, her Republican opponent in the board race. Hoffenberg said Landek's kiss was inappropriate and that she immediately told him so.

Hoffenberg publicly suggested that Getty surveilled her and told Gorman which footage to request. He has denied that allegation. She told police that she learned Getty downloaded videos from the security system.

In the police report, Hoffenberg described Landek, who is the mayor of Bridgeview, as a political ally and friend. She said Landek visits her at the office for after-hours work meetings because he knows she often works late.

'Feel sorry for you'

On Aug. 21, the township board called an emergency meeting for three days later to decide on whether to hire a third party to investigate alleged surveillance and harassment. It was later canceled.

The Hoffenbergs gave police an anonymous text message to Jeff Hoffenberg about the emergency meeting. She had previously released it to Patch.

"As a friend you need to know that Elyse calling for Emergency Meeting on Mon evening was gigantic mistake," the person wrote. "Just like sending a press release alerting media while lying to the press about being alone at the office. When they get the video it will show who Elyse was with for over an hour."

The person continued, "Feel sorry for you and the girls having to go through this. She getting bad advice from somebody and we all know who."

'Gang activity' rumors

Jeff Hoffenberg, who belongs to La Grange's Plan Commission, told police that a black car with Florida license plates was idling nearby during his daily walk earlier that day.

"Jeff and Elyse explained that there are rumors that the Getty family is tied to gang activity, and people have made vague references over the years not to cross the Getty family," the police report said.

The report said Elyse Hoffenberg described a history of Getty and other employees targeting her for harassment since 2021, when she was elected. The report offered no details.

A police officer called the phone number associated with the text message. It rang several times before going to voicemail that involved a "loud, indiscernible noise," the report said.

What are townships?

In Cook County, townships have three mandated duties: administer general assistance to the poor, maintain roads in unincorporated areas and help property taxpayers with their assessments.

They also choose to provide social services, but that is not required.

Because townships have relatively few duties, they often receive less public and media scrutiny than do municipal and school boards.