SPEAKER’S HARASSMENT PANEL PAIN
Dem county clerk nominee Yarbrough ousted to ensure political ‘ firewall’
Astate senator called House Speaker Mike Madigan on Tuesday with “serious concerns” about whether a panel he created to combat sexual harassment could remain independent with the addition of Democratic Cook County clerk nominee Karen Yarbrough — who is also the vice chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
Andin less than an hour, Yarbrough stepped down.
“She’s been removed,” newly appointed panel member Melinda Bush, a Democratic state senator fromG rayslake, told the Sun- Times on Tuesday.
Bush said she called Madigan Tuesday morning to discuss Yarbrough’s appointment.
“We had serious concerns that someone that’s vice chair of the party would be part of the panel,” Bush said. “I told him why I was concerned. That I really thought she should be removed. We want to make sure there’s a firewall and that we are able to be independent.”
Yarbrough is the Cook County recorder of deeds and is vice chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois and serves as the Democratic committeeman for Proviso Township in the Cook County Democratic Party. She won the primary for county clerk in March.
Within an hour of her conversation with Madigan, Bush said she received word from Yarbrough that she would step down if the panel felt her involvement would compromise its work.
Yarbrough said she submitted a letter, writing that she would have loved to serve but did not want to be a distraction — comparing herself to state Comptroller Susana Mendoza, a Madigan ally.
“I already know that Susana was a distraction and if I’m going to be a distraction, Iwould rather step downand help them from abroad,” Yarbrough told the Sun- Times, adding she helped to create sexual harassment policies for the Cook County Democratic Party.
“I got no time for politics when you’re dealing with this. They should try to cover all the bases, get it done and do their research,” Yarbrough said.
One leading# Me Too whistle welcomed the news.
“I’m glad to hear the panel is taking concerns around ensuring its independence seriously,” said Alaina Hampton, whose accusations against Kevin Quinn, the brother of Ald. Marty Quinn, led to Kevin Quinn’s firing from Madigan’s political organization.
The decision to add Yarbrough to the panel in the first place left Hampton scratching her head.
She said that selecting Yarbrough for the panel raised questions about its independence from the state’s Democratic Party.
Yarbrough was nominated last week during a meeting of the central committeemen and committeewomen who comprise the state Democratic Party — the same meeting at which Madigan was elected chairman of the party for the sixth time, making him the longest- serving chairman in state history. Ald. Michelle Harris ( 8th) rose to nominate Yarbrough to be part of the panel, which Madigan created after the firing of Kevin Quinn over allegations of harassment and inappropriate behavior. Yarbrough’s addition to the panel was approved during that meeting.
Hampton said Yarbrough has “a lot of ties to Marty Quinn and the speaker.”
When he formed the panel, Madigan named three Democratic women as its leaders: Mendoza, state Rep. Carol Ammons, D- Urbana, and U. S. Rep. Cheri Bustos.
But Bustos announced on April 18 that she was stepping down from the panel, citing legal reasons for withdrawing.
Before Yarbrough stepped down, Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said committeemen and committeewomen believed Yarbrough “would be someone with good credentials” to be part of the panel.
“I guess if there’s controversy I don’t understand it because the people can be independent,” Brown said before Yarbrough’s resignation.
He noted Yarbrough’s ties to both Madigan and Quinn “are just the same as Mendoza.”
“We helped both of them, one at a statewide race and one in a county race,” Brown said. “I wouldn’t be one to question their integrity, but if others want to join, so be it.”
After Bustos stepped down from the panel, Bush was selected to replace her.
Calls to Mendoza’s and Ammons’ offices were not immediately returned.