KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo County Board Chair Stephanie Moore has drawn criticism from several other commissioners over comments she made in a news article about the firing of former interim County Attorney Amber Beebe, who reportedly threatened to file a civil rights complaint because of the way it was handled.
Moore suggested she might side with Beebe, who is African-American, rather than the County, and recused herself from signing the County’s denial of Beebe’s grievance.
Other Commissioners say it’s a discussion that should not have gone public, and they want to talk about it at a future meeting.
Moore defended herself in a prepared statement read at the end of the meeting.
They will need an opinion from their new attorney on how to proceed through this legal and political minefield, and whether it can be done in closed session.
In addition, Chairman Moore may find herself in legal trouble if the claims of Zach Lassiter are true.
Lassiter, who is a regular at county meetings, claims that he and others were falsely accused of assaulting Moore on various occasions, charges that were subsequently dismissed.
Lassiter announced during citizens time Tuesday night that he filed charges of his own against Moore with the Attorney General’s office.
Chairman Moore hasn’t been charged with anything yet. That will apparently be up to the prosecutor.
