Thurston County Commissioner Carolina Mejia excused herself following a statement expressing her disappointment and frustration with the ongoing situation involving fellow Commissioner Emily Clouse.
This comes after the board took a series of actions last week, including removing Commissioner Clouse from all board and commission memberships pending an investigation into a complaint against Clouse.
The exact nature of the complaints or charges against Clouse remains unclear, but Clouse’s lawyer wrote last week that the investigation concerns a work colleague whom Clouse was previously dating.
Before excusing herself from the meeting on August 20, Mejia voiced her concerns in response to comments supporting Clouse.
“'I’m so disappointed and incredibly frustrated. These past three weeks have been a waste of government resources, taxpayer money, and a huge emotional burden,” said Mejia.
"I am disappointed because I am seeing what I myself have experienced and what other people of color experience over and over in these systems. I've seen this situation play out a million times.”
Mejia further elaborated on the difficulties faced by people of color in such environments, saying, "I myself have been scared to speak out because it's easier to believe the white woman’s tears and easier to paint the narrative of an angry brown woman."
Mejia made it clear that her frustration was not politically motivated.
"This is not political vindictiveness. I have nothing politically to gain from this, and honestly, it's not what motivated me to run or why I continue to serve," Mejia said, before excusing herself for the remainder of the meeting.
“I'm holding Commissioner Clouse to the same standards I would expect from any elected official in this community if confronted with a complaint like this.”
Before Mejia's speech, the board heard two public comments in support of Clouse.
Jeff Sowers, who worked on Clouse's campaign, expressed shock and anger over the board's decision to remove Clouse from her roles.
"I read that you thought you were doing this as a precautionary measure,” said Sowers. “Well, this doesn't seem very precautionary to me—it's kind of a bold and dramatic action that I think is of questionable legality,” he added.
Syd Locke, another supporter of Clouse, echoed these sentiments, describing the board's actions as premature and punitive, calling on the commissioners to reverse their decision, emphasizing the impact on Clouse's ability to fulfill her duties and the disservice to those who elected her.
After leaving the meeting, Mejia rejoined the board an hour later for another meeting regarding the Transportation Benefit District.
The issue stems from a decision made during an executive session on August 13, where the board voted to remove Clouse from her roles on various boards and commissions. The action was taken after a privately held executive session as details about the complaint against Clouse had not been made public.
In a statement last week, Clouse’s lawyer, Maia Robbins, explained that Clouse was in a dating relationship with a colleague that recently ended.
“Both the dating relationship and the employment relationship recently ended. The County has chosen to investigate that relationship out of an abundance of caution,” Robbins wrote.
“I can confirm that the County’s investigation is not criminal in nature,” the lawyer added.
In another statement responding to this week’s meeting, Robbins alleged Mejia of engaging in “performative theatrics.”
“The citizens of Thurston County expect their elected officials to do the work they were elected to do, as opposed to engaging in the performative theatrics and name-calling (which is what we saw yesterday) that are sadly typical of the national political scene,” Robbins wrote in a statement.
Robbins also wrote that Mejia was “unnecessarily hostile” and held that the complaint against her client did not involve racism.
“Commissioner Mejia’s over-the-top response to these concerned citizens was unnecessarily hostile and raised spurious claims of racism that are nowhere to be found in the complaint under investigation, which concerns the demise of a garden-variety workplace dating relationship,” Robbins wrote.
“While Commissioner Clouse continues to be committed to combatting the systemic racism that unfortunately plagues society today, such issues simply are not at play in this instance,” her lawyer added.
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OlyBlues
Another scandal at Thurston County government, what a huge surprise. While it is nice to see county leaders taking a break from waging war with their low-paid employees over a 3% COLA, this situation really highlights the inexperience and mediocrity of our county leaders with the exception of Commissioner Edwards. We have unqualified twenty-somethings functioning as CEO's of the county so it is no surprise to see this behavior. Neither Mejia nor Clouse have anywhere near the experience necessary to be making $140K a year running a county government. But this is what voters want, and they get everything that comes with it. By the looks of it, we will also see another big lawsuit coming from Clouse's poor judgment despite what her spin doctor attorney wants to say to downplay the incident. And to think these are the leaders who want the public to vote for millions and millions in bonds for a new courthouse. Time to clean up shop at the Commissioner's Offices. This is yet another embarrassment at Thurston County.
Wednesday, August 21 Report this
Bulldog
What is up commissioner Mejia?? Where did she get race from regarding this? She brings Race into to every little aspect of the commissioners work.
This is so far out of left field to her to make a racism claim regarding an investigation into an inappropriate relationship? Come on she needs to get real. This was such an inappropriate and unprofessional remark that she made. She’s the one that needs to be under investigation.
Thursday, August 22 Report this
Claire
Playing the race card. Typical left-wing tactic. Clouse is out of her league. Inexperienced and naive. Grow up and resign. You were elected by a liberal, uninformed constituency based on checking the appropriate boxes.
Thursday, August 22 Report this
BevBassett
Likely illegal very high level political harassment.
Thursday, August 22 Report this
BobJacobs
I have not followed this case, but I did react to the comment by DeeperThoughts that "we have unqualified twenty-somethings functioning as CEO's of the county."
To function well, our elected bodies should have some younger people and some people with more life experience. In recent times, not enough of those older, experienced people have not run for office. Sad, because there are so many highly qualified people living here.
The only people we get to vote for are those who put themselves forward as candidates. We need to step up or expect to be disappointed.
Bob Jacobs
Thursday, August 22 Report this
Deanima
Deeper Thoughts (neither deep, nor thoughtful), should step away from the keyboard and run for office.
Thursday, August 22 Report this
bonaro
Mejia played the race card when the situation had zero to do with race...very predictable yet very disappointing.
Best of luck in the next election cycle...
Friday, August 23 Report this
HappyOlympian
People in power show horrible judgement getting personally involved with those they work with. I have been following this, and had no idea race had anything to do with it, since the race of folks involved was never mentioned by anyone until an over-paid public servant started whining. As for race, is every time a person of color found guilty of something it is because of race? If that is the case, why are white people ever convicted or go to jail?
Friday, August 23 Report this