Jessie Stensland reports from Coupeville for the Whidbey News-Times.
The town of Coupeville’s former clerk/treasurer recently filed a tort claim accusing Mayor Molly Hughes of unwanted physical touching, creation of a hostile work environment based on gender bias, retaliation and wrongful termination.
Jennifer Carpenter is asking for as much as $2.5 million in damages, although her complaint states that she cannot propose a definitive amount since it’s up to a jury to decide.
“For the purposes of setting insurance reserves she is claiming an amount of $2.5 million based on her actual and potential lost wages, emotional distress damages and compensatory damages,” the claim states. “This damage amount is supported by similar discrimination and retaliation cases.”
They Said It
In January, Hughes told the News-Times that the town had been without a clerk/treasurer and a planning director since November 2023. She said both Carpenter and Planning Director Jesse Davis — who started on Oct. 17 — left for “personal reasons.” In addition, the town had advertised for a fiscal clerk because the current clerk “felt like she needed to resign due to personal reasons,” the mayor said. However, the town was able to accommodate her, leading her to stay.
On Monday, Hughes said would like to respond to the allegations, but the risk pool attorney advised her not to because of possible pending litigation.
