The New York City Board of Elections (BOE) has decided not to fire its executive director, Mike Ryan, after an internal investigation found that he had made repeated racial and sexual jokes towards two women working under him. The investigation, conducted by the city Department of Investigation (DOI), revealed that Ryan created a hostile work environment, which led one employee to resign.
Ryan, who has served as the BOE’s executive director since 2013, was accused of making inappropriate comments, including puckering his lips at one staffer, using a phrase from a Spanish-language TV show that translates to “come to bed,” and making derogatory remarks about another employee’s ethnic background. The investigation concluded that these actions led to a toxic atmosphere, pushing one staffer to leave her position.
Despite the DOI’s recommendation to terminate Ryan, the Board of Elections’ commissioners chose a lighter punishment. They suspended him for three weeks without pay, required him to attend sensitivity training, and placed him on probation for a year.
Following the release of the report, the BOE’s president and secretary issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to addressing inappropriate behavior in the workplace. “We took swift action upon learning of these serious claims,” they said, adding that the board “sent a strong message” against such behavior.
Ryan, who disputes the allegations, confirmed that he had already served the unpaid suspension. The report also noted that he had completed the city’s mandatory training on sexual harassment prevention in May 2024, just months before the alleged incidents occurred.
Harassment Claims by Former Employee
The investigation highlighted the case of Stephanie Jaquez, a former associate general counsel at the BOE, who left the agency after complaining about Ryan’s harassment. Jaquez plans to sue the Board of Elections after the DOI substantiated her claims. According to the report, Jaquez complained to senior managers and commissioners about Ryan’s behavior before resigning.
The DOI also identified another employee, a woman of South Asian descent, who was similarly subjected to harassment by Ryan, creating a broader pattern of misconduct within the agency.
Jaquez, speaking to Gothamist, expressed her gratitude that the investigation confirmed her complaints but said the findings were still difficult to process. “It’s just a reminder of how horribly Mike Ryan made me feel at work,” she said, adding that she felt the city had prioritized Ryan’s job security over treating employees fairly.
Inappropriate Comments and Behavior
The DOI’s report detailed multiple instances of Ryan making offensive remarks. In one case, Jaquez recalled Ryan re-enacting a scene from a Spanish-language TV show, where the male host dances and sings “pa’ la cama,” meaning “come to bed.” Ryan allegedly made another inappropriate comment about his appeal to younger women. Though Ryan denied making the second statement, he confirmed the conversation took place.
In another incident, Ryan and Michael Corbett, the BOE’s administrative manager, discussed acceptable age differences in dating. Jaquez, who was present, said the conversation made her uncomfortable but felt unable to leave due to the men’s positions of power. Ryan acknowledged the conversation was inappropriate but did not see it as “over the top.”
Internal Response and Further Action
The Board of Elections has faced ongoing criticism in recent years for various issues, including mishandled elections and voter data errors. Despite these challenges, the agency has recently gained praise for improving its voter outreach ahead of the 2025 citywide election.
In response to the DOI’s report, Ryan apologized for any offense caused, though he continued to dispute the harassment claims. “While I dispute these allegations, I accept the determination of the Commissioners in the best interests of the Agency,” he said.
The investigation also criticized the BOE for lacking proper oversight on harassment complaints. The report noted that the agency had no trained equal employment opportunity officer and lacked protocols to keep complaints confidential from Ryan.
The board’s decision to suspend Ryan instead of firing him has been met with criticism, especially from Jaquez, who called the punishment “insulting.” She pointed out that Ryan had already completed sensitivity training, which, in her view, had done little to change his behavior.
The Board of Elections has pledged to update its equal employment opportunity policies, though it did not specify when these changes would be implemented.
