Jessie Stensland reports from Island County for the Whidbey News-Times. Read the whole story.
Summary by Perplexity AI
Bellevue attorney Jeffrey James investigated a confidential complaint alleging Island County Commissioner Jill Johnson (R-Oak Harbor) created a hostile work environment but found the accusations unsubstantiated and no evidence of discrimination. Records show Commissioner Janet St. Clair (D-Camano Island) was the primary complainant, though she and Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) declined to comment. Johnson, a Republican, blames St. Clair and County Prosecutor Greg Banks*, says the probe sidelined her during budget talks, and insists Democrats are trying to silence her. James reviewed prior complaints, notes and recordings, acknowledging Johnson’s confrontational style but also her responsiveness to feedback and lack of pending complaints, citing repeated reelection as support.
They Said It
“Most importantly, no one I spoke with stated that Commissioner Johnson treated anyone differently based on protected status or engaged in discriminatory behavior; in fact, the feedback I received was just the opposite,” Bellevue attorney Jeffrey James wrote in the document.
Johnson has repeatedly stated in the past that she is working on her “tone” in public meetings…. Yet Johnson denies that she has ever created a hostile environment and asserts that the complaint was an attempt by a couple of Democrats to silence her. Johnson, a Republican, points to Banks and St. Clair as being responsible for the complaint and investigation, which she said has affected her ability to do her job.
“Unfortunately, this has sidelined me during the budget discussions because I didn’t want anything to be seen as retaliatory,” Johnson said in an interview, adding that she felt like she was “walking on eggshells” for the last few months.
In his summary, James wrote that Johnson is “passionate about her job” and feels responsible for holding county personnel, fellow elected officials and vendors accountable “when she feels they are failing to meet expectations.”
“Her methodology has generated some complaints in the past,” he wrote. “She has striven to receive and respond to feedback, which seems to be working: according to Ms. Reid and others, there are no pending complaints against Commissioner Johnson. Additionally, she has been re-elected multiple times by her constituents.”
Johnson agreed with the conclusion.
“I get that people don’t like confrontation, and they especially don’t like it in public,” she said, “but this is a job that demands transparency.”
In addition, Johnson emphasized that she is the only Republican on the board and said she feels the need to be outspoken in order to get her “minority opinions” across.
Ed. Note: In his last election campaign in 2022, Banks indicated “No Party Preference” in his filing. In each of his previous filings, dating back to 1998, he ran as a Democrat.
