A member of the South Bend Common Council has received a verbal reprimand for violating city policy.

Dr. Fred Ferlic admits he crossed the line in using his council email account but says it was an “innocent mistake.”

On August 18th, Ferlic used his official council email account to send out an invitation to a political fundraiser on behalf of probate court judge candidate Andre Gammage.

The letter asks those who can’t donate to walk their neighborhoods or to pick up a yard sign on behalf of the candidate.

City policy states the city email system can’t be used to support “a political candidate or cause.”

“When it was brought to our attention, I immediately sent a copy of the city policy which has been in effect since 2010 to Dr. Ferlic and also sent a copy to President Deiter, made him aware of the policy,” said South Bend Common Council Attorney Cathy Cekanski Farrand. “Dr. Ferlic immediately apologized with regard to it, and later that evening or the next day, President Dieter then gave a verbal reprimand to doc.”

Because it was city policy that was violated, the city administration has been made aware of the situation should it deem further action to be necessary.
Dr. Ferlic today apologized for what he called an “innocent mistake,” and said it wouldn’t happen again.

Ferlic is in the first year of his first term on the South Bend Common Council as a representative of the Fourth District.