Mayor Issues Statement About Girlfriend’s Duluth City Hall Involvement; Internal Review Underway

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert responded Wednesday to recent media reports that accuse his girlfriend and former campaign manager of directly handling city business since he took office in January.

“I want to assure you that this administration is committed to serving the people of Duluth in an ethical and transparent manner, and yes, Amber is my partner,” Reinert said in a statement and video post on social media Wednesday evening.

Amber Gurske, Mayor Reinert at recent Oktoberfest at Bayfront

Reinert denied any intentional wrongdoing. But he said the city was conducting an internal review to make sure his office has acted correctly, legally, and ethically.

The Duluth Monitor was first to obtain e-mails through a data practices request showing communication between Mayor Reinert’s girlfriend, Amber Gurske, and two city staffers, including the public information officer, Kelly Latuska.

Tuesday evening, The Minnesota Star Tribune released its own version of the story.

According to the paper, emails show that Gurske “…offered a city staffer ideas and copy for social media topics to be covered by Reinert, coordinated a potential mayoral proclamation, reviewed a press release and asked his assistant the nature of a meeting Reinert was taking when it was requested to be added to his schedule.”

The paper went on to say, “Gurske was on a panel that interviewed a candidate for a senior adviser role for Reinert’s office, and also acted as his staff at a local elementary school where he read to students, emails show.”

In the prepared statement and video by Reinert, he said, “I would never intentionally nor ask anyone else to do something that would negatively impact this office or the city of Duluth organization.”

Reinert has been in office since January. He declined an on-camera interview with FOX 21 Wednesday.

Gurske is not a city employee.

Below is Reinert’s full statement and video statement:

“Hey everyone,

I want to take a minute to talk about what I’m sure everyone is talking about today – the news story that came out yesterday.

As you heard, the press recently reported several allegations. The City is doing its due diligence and reviewing these. I want to ensure you that this administration is committed to serving the people of Duluth in an ethical and transparent manner.

Yes, Amber is my significant other. She is a talented professional, and someone I trust. She is also just as passionate about the future and success of our community as I am.

I would never intentionally – or ask anyone else – to do something that negatively impacts this office or the City of Duluth organization. Yet in the interest of total transparency, the City is conducting an internal review to ensure that everything that was done was done in a correct, legal, and ethical manner.

Thank you.”