Blevins barraged with questions at forum

Sebastian County Circuit Clerk Ken Blevins is looking for the Republican Party’s vote in the upcoming primary election on May 22 for reelection to the position he has served since January 2011. His opponent is current Court Administrator Denora Coomer.

But if his appearance at the League of Women Voters’ meeting on Monday (March 12) is any indication, the toughest opponent he faces could be himself.

“Should I just keep standing?” Blevins asked after receiving a barrage of questions regarding the sexual harassment accusation that is pending against him as well as the wrongful termination of two Circuit Clerk’s Office employees in 2011.

Blevins fired employees Tyanna Caldwell and Cassie Vega on Nov. 16, 2011, but a grievance committee ruled Dec. 7 that he did not have proper cause. A subsequent order from Sebastian County Judge David Hudson required Blevins to allow the two employees to return to their jobs.

Blevins refused and had a Sebastian County Sheriff’s deputy escort the women out of the office. Blevins later allowed the women to work after facing a contempt of court charge.

OFFICE CONFUSION
Blevins is being sued in U.S. District Court by Caldwell, Jean Austin, and Lynsey Shockley. Fort Smith attorney David Dunagin, who represents the plaintiffs, said Blevins is being sued for sexual harassment, defamation and creating a hostile work environment. Austin, Caldwell and Shockley earlier in 2011 alleged that Blevins sexually harassed them.

On May 12, 2011, a three-member Sebastian County grievance committee ruled that Blevins sexually harassed office employees and created a hostile work environment.

When asked about the grievance hearings, particularly how they escalated to what would become an expense of approximately $50,000 in taxpayer funds, by the Circuit Clerk’s own admission, Blevins responded, “I tried to give everybody the benefit of the doubt. Some people wanted to work in the Circuit Clerk’s office, and they wanted to work together, but they didn’t really want to work with me.”

Blevins continued: “People in the office mainly got confused as to who their boss was, and there was a feeling of insubordination, where some individuals felt other county officials were in charge of my office rather than myself. That confusion led to many of the problems that resulted later, but I think we’ve ironed out most of the problems and can move forward.”

THE 6% CHANCE
Speaking on the sexual harassment issue, Blevins said the “EEOC has looked into the matter” and decided there was “no finding they could validate that sexual harassment had occurred on my part against the people in my office.”

Blevins added that “94% of the time” when there is no finding, the accused is vindicated. “That’s only a 6% chance that it could even result in wrongdoing on my part.”

Pressed on the issue, Blevins did admit, “The plaintiffs were given the right to sue, and there is a federal lawsuit pending, which could take place on January 28 of next year, but again, statistically speaking, only a 6% group ever gets a finding of what they’re seeking, and that’s just not going to happen here.”

Another questioner asked Blevins why the county proceeded against him with grievance hearings in 2011 if he was cleared.

“I don’t think certain people in the county like me,” Blevins responded. “I have a good relationship with most elected officials, but I think it goes back to certain people causing confusion as to who is in charge of my office.”

COURT BACKLOG BLAME
On the issue of criminal case backlogs occurring during the grievance hearings, Blevins pointed the finger at Sebastian County Judge Hudson.

“There was a little backlog in the criminal court area, because I had initiated termination of two employees. The county judge refused to hold the necessary hearing in a due timely manner. Instead of holding it within three days, he waited three weeks, which caused three weeks worth of work to be dumped on one employee,” Blevins said.

Blevins continued: “There was no fault to anyone in that office. One person cannot do the work of three. It was the fault of not scheduling the hearing that legally should have been provided in a timely manner in about a week. Had it been conducted properly, it wouldn’t have happened, so that’s really who (Hudson) needs to be getting that question.”

Blevins later told The City Wire that he “would continue to work with Judge Hudson. It won’t divide us. He just did some things he shouldn’t have,” he said.

Hudson was not in attendance, but spoke with The City Wire by phone later Monday, and said, “I’ve not had any work related issues with Mr. Blevins, period, that I’m aware of (since the grievance hearings). I’ve always been open and available to discuss anything with him at any time.”

However, Hudson defended his role in bringing the grievance hearings together. “We put together these grievance committees as quick as all the parties can accommodate. There was no delay, nothing was intentionally done by anybody to slow down the procedure,” he said.

Hudson continued: “Getting all the different parties involved — determining who’s on the grievance committee, the court reporter, the attorney schedules, the witnesses — three weeks is actually pretty fast. I would have to refer you back to Mr. Blevins on the internal workings of his office and how he cross-trains his employees in the event of vacancies.”

COOMER COMMENTS
Concerning the controversies of Blevins’ office, Coomer chose not to weigh in on specifics, and went as far as affirming what Blevins had said about confusion over leadership within the Circuit Clerk’s Office.

“Too many chiefs, not enough Indians,” she said.

Coomer continued: “The issues of my campaign are experience, leadership, and ethics. I started 28 years ago, and am now going on my 29th as your Court Administrator, and I think we’re doing a great job, and I appreciate the time I’ve served in that capacity.”

Coomer was asked why she switched party affiliations to Republican after having run as a Democrat for the Circuit Clerk position in the early 1990s.

“Ronald Reagan, who was once a Democrat said something that really stuck with me through the years: ‘I didn’t leave the Democrats. The Democrats left me.’ And I can relate to that. These last 12 years, I don’t know if it’s age or whatever, but every time I go to the polls in county and state elections, I’m voting Republican,” Coomer said.

Following the event, The City Wire asked Blevins what the pressures have been like within his own party in light of the 2011 events.

“Within the party itself, there has been a lot of support. There are some, who don’t like me, though.”

The Republican nominee for the position will face Democrat and Chief Deputy Circuit Clerk Kathy Guthrie in the November election.