KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A former lawyer for the Kalamazoo Board of Commissioners filed a federal lawsuit against the county and two commissioners on Wednesday.
Beth White is alleging that the county, commission chairperson Julie Rogers, and commissioner Stephanie Moore violated the Whistleblower’s Protection Act, wrongful discharge, breach of contract, and violations of the Open Meetings Act.
White served as the county’s corporate counsel until she was voted out of the appointed role by commissioners on November 6. At a closed session meeting, county commissioner Stephanie Moore read a motion to terminate White from her role if she did not sign a nondisclosure agreement and hand in a resignation letter before 5 P.M. on November 8.
All nine commissioners voted unanimously to relieve the corporate counsel of her duties. White had been on paid administrative leave since October 31.
The lawsuit filed by White requests that her firing be reversed, she be reinstated in her previous role along with her previous compensation and benefits.
The former counsel says she ran afoul of Moore and other commissioners over her participation in the investigation of Kalamazoo County Treasurer Mary Balkema and her handling of transfers of tax foreclosed housing to area churches and non-profits.
The investigation into Balkema’s account was opened in October 2018 and was closed earlier this week after Michigan State Police announcing no charges would be named against the treasurer.
White claims in the complaint that tensions continually escalated at public commission meetings, with some board members visibly targeting her in their remarks.
In addition, Kalamazoo County’s Assistant Corporate Council is also resigning.
Andrew Wright, who was serving as the interim lawyer after White was fired, submitted his letter of resignation and will leave his position at the end of the month.
That gives the commission a little more than 2-weeks to find his replacement.
Specifics on why Wright is resigning have not been released but in his letter he did state that he would like to move on to his “next professional challenge.”
