Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas says she owes no apology to Richard Boykin over text exchange
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said Monday that there was "no apology necessary" on her part over a heated text exchange with former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin recently.
The messages came earlier this month after Boykin sent out a news release for mayoral candidate Willie Wilson, calling out other candidates who are running for mayor while also running for their current elected office. Pappas has yet to officially enter the race for mayor, but has said she plans to do so.
Pappas endorsed Boykin's bid to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Illinois) this past February. Boykin lost the Democratic primary to Illinois state Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago).
A news release from Boykin said the texts he received from Pappas earlier this month read:
"Why a f***ing turn coat after all I did for you u piece of s*** Pappas I am not a declared candidate a**hole what a user u are"
"You have no character maybe it's how you were raised boy how stupid am I to have bet on you this ain't over Richard"
"Withdraw the release I am going after you and Willie (Wilson) and it will be enough to bring him down you ungrateful a**hole"
Boykin called the text messages vulgar, condescending and racist. He in particular highlighted Pappas' use of the word "boy," which he said hearkens back to white people talking down to Black men by calling them "boy."
Last week, Boykin demanded an apology from Pappas. He said there was no apology, so he has decided to take the issue further.
Boykin said he was filing a complaint against Pappas with the Cook County Inspector General and asking for an investigation.
On Monday, echoing earlier comments, Pappas denied that her use of the word "boy" was racist, and noted that she hosts the 30-minute show "Black Houses Matter" on WVON radio.
"I'm the least person to be attacked as somebody racist," she said.
Pappas accused Boykin of airing dirty laundry by publicizing a text exchange that was supposed to be private.
"This is a private text between me and him," she said. "We were really good friends. I backed this guy for Congress. I did commercials for him, calling him my friend."
Pappas said she does not owe Boykin an apology.
"No. There's no apology necessary here. This is two people having a spat. Why would you release a text that's private between two people," she said. "You don't get into it with your friends. You don't have a spat with your friends, your girlfriends, your boyfriends… and then you release it to the public? You know what this is? Hey Richard, it's grandstanding. Nobody knows who you are or what you do."
Pappas also made reference to a lawsuit filed against her in July by the Chicago Teachers Union and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, demanding that the Cook County Treasurer's office send out property tax bills and compensate school districts affected by delays in the release of the bills. She mentioned Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates by name as she said the lawsuit would be thrown out of court.
Pappas said she was being used as a punching bag by people who wanted to get in the headlines.
"So you know what? You want to get in the news? Come after Maria Pappas. Say she said something, she looked the wrong way, she did this, she blinked. OK. They get in the news," she said. "Nobody knows who Richard Boykin is. But you know what? 'Maria Pappas!' The guy's 50 years old. He's got a 77-year-old grandmother beating up on him? What's the matter with you, Richard?"
Pappas was on CBS News Chicago on Monday to talk about her office's analysis of Cook County property tax bills with the second installment of 2025 bills soon to go out. According to Pappas' analysis, local governments countywide are seeking $743.8 million in new taxes, and homeowners are bearing the brunt of the value of the tax increase, paying 80%.
