Politics & Government

County Ethics Vote Turns Into Debate Over Diversity Hiring

Some Lake County board members fear amendment would make it tougher for minorities to get hired.

A vote on amending the Lake County Ethics Ordinance turned into a heated discussion over minority hiring in the county, at Tuesday's board meeting.

At issue was Article 5.2, which prohibits county board members and appointed officials from using their influence to help job applicants get hired.

County Board Member Audrey Nixon of North Chicago said constituents sometimes ask if they can use her as a reference. She said she has also followed up on a job application.

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“I never tell anyone they will be hired,” Nixon said. However, she felt the amendment would make it more difficult to advance minority job applicants.

County Board Member Mary Ross Cunningham, of Waukegan, voiced similar concerns.

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“My district is very, very poor. There are a lot of people who need a job . . . I feel like I’m already in jail if I talk to one of my constituents (about a job application),” Cunningham said. She said the county needs a hiring ordinance for minorities.

County Board Member Angelo Kyle, of Waukegan, said he understood the intent of the amendment, but felt it would have an adverse effect on minority hiring.

Kyle criticized the county, stating it was lacking in diversity.

“Very seldom here does the staff use the term diversity,” Kyle said. He said when he first was voted onto the county board 21 years ago, he worked to get minority managers on the county staff. He said the minority hires were eliminated.

“Some were terminated wrongfully, some demoted, some forced out,” Kyle said.

“This ordinance says we should not get involved. We have made those significant achievements because we got involved. All our achievements are being unraveled bit by bit,” Kyle said.

Kyle charged that there were discrimination suits brought against the county that were concealed from the board.

“They were not proven in court. Your allegations are wrong and inflammatory,” said County Administrator Barry Burton. Burton said there was one discrimination case filed that was settled. He stressed that settling does not prove the charges; he said it was settled as a nuisance issue.

“Lets go back to the fact that the human resources director made somebody work and judged them on their work performance,” Burton said, referring to the alleged discrimination case. He also pointed out the person was replaced with an African-American.

County Board member Ann Maine answered some of the concerns saying county board members can’t be held responsible if a constituent puts their name on an application as a reference.

“I have sympathy for the lower income areas of county, but there are people across the county and across the nation who need jobs,” said Gurnee representative Steve Carlson.

Carlson said whether it’s unintended or not, calling a county employee and asking about a job application for a constituent puts pressure on the county employee.

“If this door opened a crack, especially nowadays, we’re all going to get many calls. It’s effective for me to say I can’t help you,” Carlson said.

“I don’t think there’s anyone in this room who would vote for this if we thought it would shut out minorities from being hired,” said Grayslake County Board Member Pat Carey.

County Board Chairman David Stolman, of Buffalo Grove, pointed out that the ordinance was intended to level the playing field for job applicants and that it was based on state statutes.

The amendment to Ethics Ordinance was approved by a vote of 18-5, with members Cunningham, Michelle Feldman, Kyle, Nixon and Terry Wilke voting against it.

Some board members, including Melinda Bush of Grayslake, agreed that, due to the concerns voiced, the diversity issue is worth further discussion by the county board.


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