Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin is running for Congress against longtime U.S. Rep. Danny Davis while she continues to face fallout from recently revealed allegations of unethical conduct in her administration from two former top aides.
A former state representative first elected city treasurer in 2019, Conyears-Ervin was a prominent Davis supporter in 2022 when the incumbent faced a strong challenge from anti-violence activist Kina Collins. This time, Conyears-Ervin is challenging Davis, currently in his 14th term in Congress, and Collins, who is running again.
But complicating matters for Conyears-Ervin are ongoing questions about her administration at City Hall.
The Tribune first reported last month on details surrounding allegations made in December 2020 by her former chief of staff, Tiffany Harper, and former chief impact officer, Ashley Evans.
In a letter to the city from the former employees’ lawyers, the two alleged Conyears-Ervin had used government workers to plan her daughter’s birthday party, repeatedly misused taxpayer resources and attempted to force BMO Harris — one of the banks where city money is deposited — to issue a mortgage tied to the building that houses the aldermanic office for the treasurer’s husband, Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th.
Investigators with Chicago’s inspector general last month seized computers from the treasurer’s City Hall offices. The move by Inspector General Deborah Witzburg’s staff came after the release of the letter. It also came after the head of the Chicago Board of Ethics said the agency referred the letter to the inspector general’s office years ago but said the board couldn’t do more unless it received detailed findings from the IG.
“I do not believe it will be an issue in the race,” she told Politico. “The hardworking families of this district have more important issues to address.”
Conyears-Ervin, who declined a Tribune interview request, is betting voters in the district will be drawn to her life story, having been raised by a single mother and ignore the allegations. She has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
“As a working mother born on the South Side, raised on the West Side, and raising my daughter on the West Side, I know how hard the people of the 7th District work every day,” she said in a statement Friday. “I also know they deserve someone representing them in Congress who works as hard as they do to make our community better.”
Her congressional campaign also released a video on YouTube to announce her intention to run.
The 7th Congressional District stretches from the west suburbs of Westchester, Bellwood and Oak Park through the city’s West Side and east to Lake Michigan, encompassing Streeterville and downtown, before darting south to include parts of the South Loop, Bridgeport and Englewood.
Still, the seat has long been a bastion of power for the West Side and Davis carries significant support from the political and religious establishment in the district. Conyears-Ervin in April announced the creation of an exploratory committee to challenge Davis and at the time was careful not to criticize him, saying he had served “ably.”
Conyears-Ervin served one term in the Illinois House before defeating former Ald. Ameya Pawar with 59% of the vote in the 2019 runoff election for city treasurer.