DuPage County Board's Sadia Covert's statement on harassment

DuPage County Board member Sadia Covert has released the following statement in response to a joint statement from board members Elizabeth Chapin, Dawn DeSart, Mary FitzGerald Ozog and Julie Renehan:

The statement made by the county board members denying harassment is absolutely false.

Their focus on the car keying incident is only a tactic to deflect away from the real issue of their persistent harassment. I will say again: My car was keyed. I know who did it, and I have a witness. As an attorney, I knew that there was not enough evidence to pursue criminal charges against the perpetrator who I believe is connected to one of the county board members. I wish to continue to do my job, and I hope these other members can also start to do theirs.

I have filed a complaint with the HR Department of DuPage County along with the proof of harassment. But I found out that HR has no jurisdiction with these type of complaints because county board members are not considered employees for the purposes of harassment.

As a solution-oriented person, this experience has driven me to start working on a new harassment policy that specifically protects county board members and countywide officials. In the last few weeks, I have met with the chairman, HR, and the state's attorney regarding this issue and have begun the drafting of the new harassment policy.

However, I do find it interesting that the same county board members that are bullying me are also the ones trying to claim credit for an anti-bullying policy, but I welcome their involvement with getting this policy passed. All are welcomed to join me in this initiative.

I look forward to working with my colleagues productively on this new policy which will protect all who work for DuPage County.