Humboldt supervisors censure Chair Michelle Bushnell; board approves further process review and limited mitigation steps

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors publicly censured Chair Michelle Bushnell on Nov. 5 after an impartial investigation found sustained violations of the board’s code of conduct. Human Resources reported an investigation, initiated following complaints in May 2025, that concluded with sustained findings that Bushnell raised her voice, used hostile language and cursed at employees.

Human Resources Director Zach O’Hannon summarized the process and investigator findings in open session. Multiple members of the public spoke during the censure item; some urged restraint and praised Bushnell’s community work, while others urged stronger protections for staff. After public comment, Supervisor Arroyo moved to censure; the motion carried by recorded vote (4‑1). The censure is a public reprimand under the board’s code and does not remove Bushnell’s ability to speak at future meetings.

Supervisor Bushnell addressed the board and said she regretted the incident, apologized to any employees who felt uncomfortable and acknowledged personal factors and recent health issues that contributed to her conduct. She said she has been in counseling and would work to prevent a recurrence: “I was very loud. I felt wronged, and I reacted bad,” she said on the record.

The board then considered additional mitigation. After debate, members voted to refer the board’s handling and the county’s code‑of‑conduct process to the civil grand jury for independent review and to take additional measures governing chair assignments and oversight; the package of follow‑up actions was approved in a vote recorded as 3 yes, 1 no, 1 abstention. Several supervisors said they wanted a third‑party review of the code‑of‑conduct process because staff administer the investigative steps and the current process can place staff in awkward positions.

What this means now: the censure is on the public record; the board has asked the civil grand jury to review the matter and the county’s process for handling board complaints and to recommend clarifications. The board also directed limited mitigation steps intended to protect employees and improve process transparency; staff will return with formal language and any recommended policy changes for the board’s consideration.