Candidate for the 7th Congressional District and Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin spoke with local residents during a meet-and-greet Sunday at YogaSix in Oak Park.
Conyears-Ervin is running to unseat longtime U.S. Rep Danny K. Davis in the upcoming primary election March 19. The Democratic ballot also includes activist and community organizer Kina Collins, principal Nikhil Bhatia and former Obama campaign staffer Kouri Marshall.
During the informal gathering, community members had a chance to speak with the candidate while enjoying snacks and refreshments. Conyears-Ervin said she was happy that residents from all walks of life stopped by to participate in the event.
“I believe people are hungry for change,” she said.
Conyears-Ervin served as a state representative for the 10th District before resigning in 2019 to run for city treasurer. She won a three-way race then ran unopposed in 2022. She officially announced her Congressional run in October 2023.
Despite past allegations of ethical misconduct while serving as city treasurer, Conyears-Ervin has endorsements from the Chicago Teachers Union, the Chicago Firefighters Local 2 and the Illinois Nurses Association in her bid for congress. She is also backed by Ald. Jeanette Taylor of the 20th Ward on the South Side and West Side Al. Chris Taliaferro of the 29th Ward.
Last year, the city released a 2020 letter from two of Conyears-Ervin’s former staff members. Tiffany Harper, who was Conyears-Ervin’s former chief of staff, and Ashley Evans, a city treasurer employee, said they were fired after questioning what they call Conyears-Ervin’s abuse of power. Among those allegations were that the treasurer used staff to run her personal errands and to plan her daughter’s birthday party. The letter also accused Conyears-Ervin of hiring an assistant who lacked the required financial training and of approaching BMO Harris Bank to give a mortgage to the building where her husband, Ald. Jason Ervin, previously worked. The city settled with the ex-employees and Conyears-Ervin denied the allegations.
When asked during Sunday’s meet-and-greet about how she has remained competitive in the race and bounced back from the ethics allegations, Conyears-Ervin said she’s accustomed to challenges.
“Being the only working mother in this race, I’m used to challenges, but it won’t stop me because I know who it is I’m fighting for,” she said. “When I speak with working families, they talk about the increase in costs, but their wages are staying the same. They talk about women not being protected in DC, the increasing prices of prescription drugs in healthcare, and about our failing schools — so I know the task at hand and I’m focused.”
US House of Representatives candidate Melissa Conyears-Ervin speaks with voters on Lake Street in Oak Park on Sunday March 3, 2024 | Todd Bannor Credit: Todd Bannor 
Melissa Conyear-Ervin speaks to voters at a meet & greet at YogaSix in Oak Park on Sunday March 3, 2024 | Todd Bannor Credit: Todd Bannor 
Melissa Conyear-Ervin speaks with a voter at a meet & greet at YogaSix in Oak Park on Sunday March 3, 2024 | Todd Bannor Credit: Todd Bannor
The predominantly female crowd at the meet-and-greet included Oak Park resident Jessica Corchin and her 11-year-old daughter, Grae.
“We met one of the candidates on the street in the fall and we figured this would be a good opportunity to meet somebody else and learn a little bit more about her,” Corchin said.
Susan Bohanon of Forest Park said she attended the event to meet Conyears-Ervin and to voice her concerns about ageism in the job market.
“I’m raising my 5-year-old granddaughter so I like that she’s a mom and can understand where I’m coming from,” Bohanon said. “I feel that we need somebody who represents more women in congress.”
Another Forest Park Resident, Stephen Chertok, said he participated in the event to speak with Conyears-Ervin about affordable housing.
“I want to hear what some of her ideas are and try to get support for some of my ideas,” Chertok said.
During the event, Conyears-Ervin expressed her enthusiasm about the endorsement she received from the Chicago Teachers Union last month.
“I think it’s awesome and it really speaks to the partnership that we look forward to,” Conyears-Ervin said. “I understand what parents are dealing with every day who have school-aged kids. I also understand what the teachers and administrators are dealing with in not having enough resources to really educate our kids in the way they deserve.”
As a lifelong resident of the 7th District, Conyears-Ervin said endorsements from the Chicago Teachers Union and the Illinois Nurses Association mean a lot to her.
“I’m about the everyday people so when people ask me about endorsements, it’s endorsements from everyday people that really matter to me,” she said.
If elected, Conyears-Ervin aims to strengthen public schools, decrease healthcare costs, protect abortion rights, curb gun violence and fight to create better-paying jobs.
According to data published by the Federal Election Commission, Conyears-Ervin has raised more than $516,000 in campaign donations, which is more than anyone else in the race.