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By: Ellen Cans
A Board of Elections boss is being accused of sexually harassing two employees and saying gays “bothered” him. As reported by the NY Post, on Friday, a $5 million court filing was made accusing Board of Elections Executive Director Michael Ryan of sexual harassment and openly making offensive jokes about gays. The petition against Ryan and the BOE was filed by Stephanie Jaquez, a lawyer working under Ryan.
The filing alleges Ryan, 58, was “bothered by the number of gay employees referenced in the training” and “suggested that it was evidence that heterosexuals were being discriminated against” at the city agency, wrote Jaquez. A former associate general counsel for the BOE, she also accuses Ryan of routinely making sexual, racial and ethnic comments and allegedly asking female employees “how young is too young.” Jaquez also alleges he tried to touch her face, making her “extremely uncomfortable,” as per the court filing. She says in the filing that she first reported Ryan’s behavior to BOE officials back in July, and that she resigned the following week.
Jaquez’s new court filing, comes just days after the city’s Department of Investigation released a report in which it recommended Ryan’s termination. The DOI conducted a probe into the claims that Ryan repeatedly sexually and racially harassed two BOE employees. Following the probe, the DOI took the “unusual step” of recommending Ryan be fired from the BOE. “DOI’s investigation concluded that Ryan’s conduct constituted harassment and created a hostile work environment for these two employees in violation of BOE’s Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) policies,” per the DOI release. The report also highlighted the “DOI’s view that Ryan’s conduct was sufficiently serious, particularly in light of his leadership position, that termination or resignation in lieu of termination is warranted.”
As per The Post, the Board of Elections decided to reject the recommendations and instead offer Ryan a slap on the wrist — putting him on unpaid leave for three weeks and forcing him to undergo additional sensitivity training. Ryan was also put on probation for a year. Last year Ryan was paid $289,662 last year, per city records. Jaquez fumed at the BOE’s decision to give Ryan three weeks of unpaid leave “during the holidays.” “What [executive director] Ryan did was unlawful and in violation of my human rights.
It is not merely a matter of being more sensitive,” she wrote. She also scoffed at the sensitivity course mandated, saying it’s the same annual course that he has “openly” mocked in the past. “The BOE’s failure to adequately consider the DOI’s recommendations reflects a deeper systemic issue,” Jaquez further commented on Monday.
Per the Post, Jaquez’s $5 million case is not yet technically a lawsuit, because her notice of claim was filed outside of the 90-day window, her lawyer explained. “The law is clearly in Ms. Jaquez’s favor, and we expect the court to grant her request,” said attorney Annie Seifullah. “This would allow her to move forward with a lawsuit against the BOE Commissioners and its Executive Director for the discrimination and hostile work environment she endured—allegations that the DOI has already substantiated.”
Last week, following the DOI’s report, Ryan released an apologetic statement. “While I dispute these allegations and disagree with the report’s conclusion, I accept the determination of the Commissioners in the best interest of the Agency,” Ryan’s statement read.
