At the courthouse

Washington County Judge Marilyn Edwards undoubtedly enjoyed calmer days before two former county employees filed unrelated lawsuits alleging the judge and higher-ups in her administration violated their civil rights.

From what I've read about these assorted accusations, filed separately in U.S. District Court by Fayetteville attorney Josh Bailey of the Morton Group, the mood around the county courthouse is bound to be as chilly as the temperatures in Northwest Arkansas.

Lawsuits and the invariable prospect of sworn depositions have a way of creating that kind of climate in any office.

George Braswell, a road department employee, filed the first suit against Edwards and company after he claimed supervisors harassed him when he complained that two county bridges had safety problems in their design and construction.

A news account of the suits by reporter Dan Holtmeyer quoted from Braswell's suit: "During and after the campaign, Edwards and her staff systematically targeted county employees who supported her political opponent through terminations, forced resignations and other adverse actions."

In response to the filing, Edwards and the supervisors admitted two road supervisors had in fact made pointed remarks to Braswell after he'd voiced his complaints about inadequacies in bridge construction. But they denied allegations of retaliation and harassment.

Then came former purchasing manager Mandy Przysczpkowski (I prefer Mandy P) and her suit, which contends the judge, her chief of staff and others made it clear to her that she was to make life difficult for another county employee who openly supported Edwards' formidable opponent, former assessor Jeff Williams.

The action says she was demoted before her job was threatened and she was ultimately fired after refusing to follow those commands.

Bailey writes: "We have genuine First Amendment violations by the executive of the county. We certainly believe their (Edwards and the others) conduct did produce, and was intended to produce, a chilling effect."

County attorney Steve Zega was busy preparing a response to the lawsuit at the time I'm writing.

Meanwhile, I found it interesting, as I'm sure did others, that Bailey's filing expanded on the alleged politicized harassment within the courthouse, reporting that those who supported Edwards' opponent were terminated or forced to resign, as well as harassed in other ways.

Ouch! Should that prove true the case at trial, it would remind me of that oft-repeated phrase from no lesser a figure than our president who reportedly said a few years back that his administration rewards friends and punishes enemies. Yet that's not how our free and open society (much less its public servants) is supposed to function, or is it, in 2015.

Back to Mandy P's case seeking compensation for damaged reputation, emotional turmoil and lost income--her suit contends that in April, Edwards and her chief of staff, Dan Short, became angry when computer administrator Jonathan Jarboe voiced support for the judge's opponent. Holtmeyer's story says they instructed Mandy to block Jarboe's ability to purchase anything or access county systems. When she balked, she says, a negative performance evaluation and false accusations of misconduct soon followed.

For instance, the lawsuit says a letter of reprimand showing Short's motivations against Jarboe was placed in Mandy's employment file. The story says personnel files can be released after the employee has been fired. Apparently not, though. Zega denied a Freedom of Information Act request for Mandy P's file, contending it was exempt from release because it would be an "unwarranted invasion of privacy" and would serve no compelling public interest.

"It says things about Mandy that are unflattering," Zega is quoted saying. "My opinion, and it's just an opinion: You've got to think about whether her interest in keeping that private is outweighed."

Bailey also declined to provide his client's file. Mandy P did file a grievance, but she and the county agreed to waive that procedure altogether. Holtmeyer writes that three days before Mandy P was fired on Nov. 20 for alleged "misconduct relating to county property," her position was reduced from purchasing director to purchasing manager. This position now reports to comptroller Cheryl Bolinger, who reports to Edwards.

Even that move has sparked some controversy within the quorum court by members who question its potential effect on the county's financial checks and balances.

As of February, Mandy was still seeking a job, according to her attorney. And I noticed the Washington County courthouse was still standing last week.

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Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at mikemasterson10@hotmail.com.

Editorial on 02/28/2015

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