Will congressional candidate, Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin challenge ethics findings?
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Melissa Conyears-Ervin is running for a new job as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
However, there are ongoing questions about her current role as the City of Chicago Treasurer.
Last year, two former employees of Conyears-Ervin's received a $100,000 settlement after being fired. They complained they were asked to run personal errands.
The Board Of Ethics continues to investigate the matter. A campaign spokesperson told CBS2: "At this point, any findings from the Board are preliminary, and the Treasurer has a right to address those findings through a confidential process. She is availing herself of that right."
Determination of what – if any -- fine she may have to pay is still being worked out.
CBS 2 has learned that the city's Law Department is looking into the next steps, and a judge will likely weigh in.
EDITORS NOTE: A correction has been made to a prior version of this story. We had reported Conyears-Ervin had been found in violation of the city's ethics code and issued a fine.
That has not happened.
In November, the Board of Ethics did vote 4-0 to determine there is "probable cause" that the treasurer violated city ethics ordinances. Her counsel met with the board to rebut the probable cause findings.
The board's ultimate determination -- and decision on whether to issue a fine -- has not yet been ruled on. That is expected at their next board meeting in April.
Last week, for the first time, Conyears-Ervin sat down with CBS 2 to address the investigation. Will she be fighting back against or accepting the board's findings?
Tye: "Will you be contesting those results?"
Conyears-Ervin: "We have addressed those complaints from four years ago on multiple occasions."
Conyears-Ervin, who declined our interview request last fall when the story of alleged ethics violations first broke, sat down with CBS 2 last week for a profile on her run to replace U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Illinois) in the 7th Congressional District.
Tye: "Will you be challenging those findings? You have the right to do so. Will you?"
Conyears-Ervin: "So let me answer this again. I've answered these four-year-old complaints."
Tye: "Where have you answered this before? I've looked pretty voraciously. I haven't seen any answers to the question, " will you be challenging that finding?"
Conyears-Ervin: "So I wasn't finished with what I was saying."
Tye: "Apologies."
Conyears-Ervin: "And if you need some more information, we can provide it."
However, her team could not provide a single quote or interview anywhere where she has addressed challenging the ethics findings.
A spokesperson later told us, "She has answered the charges generally…. She has made policy changes."
When pressed for what those changes were, CBS 2 was given a news release from last fall announcing several new hires in her office – including a chief ethics officer – but no evidence of any policy changes.
Conyears-Ervin: "If I'm not answering in the way you are pleased, let me apologize to you. But let me tell you, I won't be distracted. I have to focus on what's important to the residents."
Tye: "Support of Congress is at a near-historic low. When you have an issue like the one you're navigating in your current job, I think what's important to the voters - at least many have told us - is clarity on what happened with those employees who – albeit four years ago – it's a question of character. It's a question of judgment. And it doesn't seem like you're ready to answer that very basic question: Will you be challenging the Board of Ethics decision?"
Conyears-Ervin: "That's interesting."
Tye: "It's a very basic…"
Conyears-Ervin: "You think that's basic? Let me tell you what's basic to the residents that I talk to - because I talk to them on a daily basis. What's basic to them is being able to feed their kids. That's what's basic to them."
Tye: "But I'm not asking them a question. I'm asking the person who's running for Congress a question. My question to you very simply is…"
Conyears-Ervin: "And I've answered it."
Tye: "No, you haven't."
Conyears-Ervin: "I have. I have."
Tye: "So you are, or are not, going to be challenging?"
Conyears-Ervin: "I've answered your question."
Tye: "What was the answer? I'm not hearing it."
Conyears-Ervin: "What I stated was, I've already responded to the four-year-old complaint."
Tye: "That's not answering my question."
Conyears-Ervin: "Yes, it is."
Tye: "Why won't you answer these questions today, freshly?"
Conyears-Ervin: "There are a few weeks left in this election."
Tye: "That's where it makes it even more important to answer these questions in the homestretch. Don't folks have a right to have clarity here?"
Conyears-Ervin: "As I mentioned to you, if you need some more information, we will provide it - because I've answered this."
Tye: "But you're the candidate. You're sitting right in front of me. Can't you give me that answer?"
Conyears-Ervin: "I've already answered it."
Tye: "With respect, Ms. Conyears-Ervin, you did not answer my question."
Conyears-Ervin: "And respect, Chris."
Tye: "It's a binary question. It's a yes or a no."
Conyears-Ervin: "Let me tell you this. We can move on, Chris."
Tye: "Are you going to challenge the Board of Ethics findings? Yes or no?"
Conyears-Ervin: "Chris, I've answered your question."
Tye: "Yes or no, ma'am?
Conyears-Ervin: "Chris, I've answered it."
Tye: "OK."
Tye: "There was 100,000 taxpayer dollars spent settling the complaint by those two employees, and the city agreed to the settlement. That's $100,000 of city taxpayer dollars. Do you feel like you have a duty to be more transparent in what happened here, considering that many say, 'Where there's smoke, there's fire?'"
Conyears-Ervin: "The complaints from four years ago - not only do they misrepresent the Office of the City Treasurer, they certainly misrepresent me."
Late Wednesday, the Treasurer's office spokesperson said a handbook for employees - including an updated and clarified ethics policy - has been distributed to staff, and an in-person ethics training program is in the works.
