Jason Ervin as Maywood finance director

I have met and like Jason Ervin. He seemed sharp to me. (But I was also impressed by Chris Welch when I first met him.)

The Maywood Herald (David Pollard) had an article including a slam on the decision to hire Jason Ervin as Maywood's finance director.

Former Trustee Sheryl Washington, who was chairman of the village's Finance Committee, is troubled by the placing of Jason Ervin, someone linked politically to Mayor Henderson Yarbrough.

"I have received many phone calls from residents regarding Jason Ervin assuming the position of finance director," Washington said. "Many of the residents are outraged that the new administration would place someone in the position who is not qualified to hold the position and his appointment violates the bond covenants.

"The residents are also asking how the mayor can justify paying Jason Ervin his current salary of $87,000 per year which is what was paid to the previous finance director, since he is not qualified and has no government or municipal experience. The residents see this as nothing more than a political favor, because he worked on Yarbrough's campaign. And why wasn't an independent audit conducted on the former finance director after the finance director left her position. Ervin currently has complete control of the accounting system, which is placing the village at great risk. The former finance director stated in a board meeting that 'we are at least $200,000 in the hole because the departments are overspending,' despite her efforts to stop them."

I don't like how Pollard handled this criticism of Ervin. Pollard portrays Yarbrough and Ervin as potentially having political motives, but doesn't hit that note with Washington.

If Pollard is going to include the accusation that Ervin isn't qualified it seems like it should be based on the written job description or guidelines provided by a professional association. It seems like the allegation should be sourced more specifically than a defeated political candidate. Henderson Yarbrough received 1,314 votes (31.7%) to Sheryl Washington's 805 (19.4%).

IIRC correctly Ervin worked at Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young for about a decade. Who you gonna trust? An accountant from Ernst & Young or somebody that's been punching his/her ticket in the greater Chicago political machine?