Double Duty on Taxpayers' Time?

Maywood, IL. - In the morning, Jason Ervin is the Village Manager of Maywood, making $104,000 a year in what is supposed to be a non-political job. In the afternoon Ervin turns into a campaign worker, checking the petitions of a political rival of his boss's wife.

And before Maywood Village Hall closes its doors for the day, Ervin once again puts on his administrative hat for a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce.

If all that sounds a little confusing, you're not alone.

On Tuesday, November 10, Fox Chicago News videotaped Ervin at the Cook County Clerk's office doing political work for the wife of Maywood Mayor Henderson Yarbrough. Ervin explained that while he had been working for the village in the morning, he had taken himself off the clock around noon to do political work.

"If I'm doing something that's not affiliated with the Village of Maywood, I will take myself off the clock," Ervin said.

"That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard," said Andy Shaw, Director of the Better Government Association. "By that token, any public official can excuse any political act during the day by claiming he's working for the public at a different time."

Ervin was checking the petitions of John Conteduca, a Melrose Park resident who is running for Proviso Township Democratic Committeeman. Also running in that race is Democratic State Representative Karen Yarbrough, who is married to the Maywood mayor. Ervin serves as the Treasurer of Karen Yarbrough's campaign committee.

Ervin said he works in excess of 40 hours a week and makes his own schedule. When asked why he was doing political work at the same time Maywood Village hall was open, Ervin said "Because that's when the (clerk's office) is open.... (it's) open the same time we're open, so I have to take off work to go down there."

But a spokesperson for Cook County Clerk David Orr says the clerk's office has extended hours during the petition season, including weeknights and weekends.

Ervin also failed to sign in and show identification when checking the petitions, as required by the Clerk's office. Ervin says it was not intentional. "Evidently it was an oversight," Ervin said.

Henderson Yarbrough said he never asked Ervin to check the petitions. Karen Yarbrough was unavailable for comment.