* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

Last month, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch told WGN Political Editor Tahman Bradley during an interview, “I’m going to apologize for making her feel uncomfortable.”

The woman he was referring to was a district office worker for former Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, who who quit after she said she was sexually harassed. The woman also told the Chicago Tribune that Welch had sent “heart-eye” emojis to her mobile phone in response to photos and said when she reached out to Welch about her future career plans, he suggested that they meet at a bar in his favorite suburban steakhouse. All of that, she said made her feel quite uncomfortable.

“I’m going to own that. I regret it, and I want to apologize to her,” Welch told Bradley. “I sincerely want to apologize to her because it was never my intent to make her or anyone feel uncomfortable.”

So, I reached out to the young former staffer through an approved intermediary to ask if Welch had ever apologized to her.

“No, he’s never apologized to me,” she replied.

When I asked whether she thinks Welch “should” apologize, the former staffer said there was something else he should do along with an apology: “I think I’d like to hear how he plans to improve the culture along with the apology,” she said. “Empty apology for his actions alone would just be awkward,” she continued.

I showed the back-and-forth between me and the intermediary to several House Democrats. Most said the culture change was more important.

Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, who has been a Welch critic, had this to say: “I agree with her perspective. A personal apology is empty unless backed with significant action. We need to fix the policies and procedures that failed her, but also the culture that led to the harm in the first place.”

Cassidy also didn’t expect that a Welch-style apology would be sufficient: “I have issues with apologies that focus on the feelings of the victim as opposed to his actions.”

“I’ve always been less interested in apologies and more concerned with fixing problems,” said Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, who also chairs the House Women’s Caucus.

“I think her comment that she’d like substantive cultural changes and not just an apology makes sense and is wise,” said Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin. “From what I’ve heard, the working group assembled by the speaker is taking the task seriously, and I think the caucus will be looking for substantive proposals to help ensure that district staff are protected. I think if the speaker knew that she’d like a direct apology he would provide one.”

Well, he knows now.

Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, is a member of Welch’s leadership team: “All of us, especially those of us in leadership, bear responsibility for the workplace culture in Springfield that’s too often toxic and harmful. We need a plan to make things better. I’ve been talking with my colleagues throughout the summer, and I’m hopeful that we can come together in veto session with some concrete steps to improve our processes and keep our people safe.”

Rep. Ann Stava, D-Naperville, noted that the working group got off to a very rocky start: “[Welch’s] response was to formally assign people to a working group to ‘study the issue.’ Multiple members who were assigned declined to join for reasons they specified publicly.”

Stava also said that she hadn’t decided whether to vote for Welch in January, and warned, “I do not look kindly on the fact that he has not personally apologized to the original victim or the subsequent victims to my knowledge.”

In my own opinion, Welch should follow through on both of his public promises: Genuinely apologize and improve the staff working environment.

Instead, the House Democrats have gone on offense against the Republican candidate running against Benton’s successor, Gabby Shanahan.

Benton was succeeded by one of his former district office employees, who said she witnessed Benton’s sexual harassment but didn’t report it because the young staffer asked her not to. The Republicans have sharply and repeatedly criticized appointed Rep. Jessica Dixon Heitman, D-Plainfield, for turning a blind eye to what happened.

The Democrats are now trying to turn the Republican attacks back against the GOP candidate Shanahan.

“Gabby Shanahan’s biggest backer is a top Trump ally,” the narrator says in the Democratic streaming ad as photos of President Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Vice President JD Vance appear beside Shanahan, according to my associate Isabel Miller.

“We don’t need another politician like Shanahan who will look the other way” the ad states.

Clever, considering that’s just what Welch did with Benton.

Discuss.