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Commission votes to censure Commissioner John Crofts and rotate chair after independence investigation
Summary
The Davis County Commission approved a public response to an independent workplace investigation and voted to remove Commissioner John Crofts from supervisory responsibilities and rotate the chair effective at the end of the July 7 meeting; Crofts abstained from the roll call and denied wrongdoing.
The Davis County Commission on July 7 approved action responding to an independent investigation into workplace conduct and agreed to rotate the commission chair at the conclusion of the meeting.
Commissioner Bob Stevenson presented a public letter summarizing a five-month independent investigation that interviewed 26 people and, according to the letter read at the meeting, identified complaints in six categories: hostile work environment; political favoritism; religious discrimination; LGBTQ discrimination; defamation; and fitness for duty. Stevenson said the steps were intended "to protect the County and the remaining staff" and to reduce liability. The board then voted to approve Item #2026-688, moving the chair rotation as if it were the start of 2027.
Public commenter Jenna Nelson, who identified herself as a former housing specialist with the Davis Community Housing Authority and former jail administrator, urged Commissioner Crofts to resign and said the County was still suffering morale and financial costs tied to the ongoing investigation. Nelson also alleged that Crofts had sought to install her as Executive Director of the Housing Authority and said she had heard derogatory comments about a Clearfield council member.
Commissioner John Crofts responded directly at the meeting, calling Nelson's assertions "untrue and unfounded," denying he made derogatory remarks about the LGBTQ community, and criticizing aspects of the investigation's methodology, including anonymous interviews. Crofts said he believed accusations stemmed from political retaliation over fiscal stances and defended his record, saying "somebody has to stick up for the taxpayer."
The motion to approve Item #3 and rotate the chair was moved by Bob Stevenson and seconded by Lorene Kamalu. Vote tally recorded at the meeting: yes — Bob Stevenson and Lorene Kamalu; abstain — John Crofts. The motion passed and the leadership rotation was scheduled to take effect at the meeting's conclusion.
