Prosecutor’s wife tells off 2 Franklin commissioners. Her bullying claims are upsetting | Opinion

Like a poison, the bad blood between several Franklin County officials is still tainting public commission meetings.

Now, unfortunately, the feuding and hostilities appear to be spreading beyond the confines of the courthouse.

It’s regrettable, and it’s overshadowing the good work that goes on in the county.

While this week’s two-hour commission meeting included encouraging presentations and polite discussion, it also was pocked with jabs and accusations between the commissioners, as well as bursts of disturbing remarks from the public.

The most shocking claims came from Kati Sant, who made it clear she was there as a citizen and not as the wife of the Franklin County prosecutor.

She said after last week’s commission meeting, Commissioner Clint Didier threatened to throw her out of future commission meetings if she was “disruptive again.” She also said the threat occurred outside the commissioner meeting room and was witnessed by others.

“If my feedback to your bullying makes you uncomfortable, you are in the wrong position as an elected official,” Kati Sant told Didier.

She has been attending commission meetings regularly and noted that the video of the May 23 meeting clearly shows she was not disruptive.

“Commissioners Mullen and Didier need to stop the juvenile and dismissive attempts when I make my remarks. It makes me think you are misogynistic, sexist and xenophobic. I am my own person and have my own independent thoughts and ideas outside of familial relationships and friendships,” she told them.

She said commissioners “do not enjoy complete immunity from civil litigation for your behaviors — especially those involving personal threats and infringement on citizens’ constitutional rights.”

“So maybe before you restrict your constituents’ freedom of speech you can fix this sh-- show of cronyism you have created in this county,” she told them.

If, as Kati Sant says, she was threatened for speaking her mind then that means whoever is doing the intimidating is going too far and abusing their authority.

It’s standard practice for elected officials to listen to constituents during the public comment period and make no reply. But near the end of the meeting, Commissioner Rocky Mullen made the right move and publicly apologized to her, saying that, “If I’ve offended you, I apologize.”

Didier remained silent on the issue.

And then the meeting fell apart.

The last fragment of decorum disintegrated when Mullen moved to rescind the ability of the county commissioners to divert what the county would pay for their health insurance into a VEBA account, which is used by employees to cover their own medical expenses and insurance premiums.

The decision that allowed that option for all county employees — including the commissioners — was made by commissioners in 2016 and has now been called into question and is under legal review.

Only the option for the commissioners is being investigated because elected officials are not allowed to vote themselves a raise while in office.

The money could be considered a taxable benefit, but some contend it amounts to a salary increase. The issue is complicated and that’s why lawyers are reviewing it.

Didier and Mullen were not on the board at that time, but Commissioner Brad Peck was, and he voted in favor of providing all county employees that choice. If it turns out the 2016 decision was unconstitutional, it’s possible Peck could owe the county nearly $47,000.

Instead of waiting for the legal review, Mullen wanted to withdraw the option immediately for all three of them.

A heated exchange ensued when Peck told Mullen his motion was out of order.

In the midst of the arguing, Didier interjected that the commission doesn’t follow Robert’s Rules of Order, the guide for running meetings fairly and predictably.

A statement like that certainly doesn’t instill confidence in the commission.

The problem with Mullen’s motion, of course, is that the topic was not listed on Tuesday’s agenda and it came out of nowhere — and that goes against the spirit of the state Open Meetings Act.

Mullen would have been better off saying he wanted the issue discussed at the next commission meeting so it could be put on the agenda and then the public would be properly notified.

But the Didier-Mullen camp just can’t seem to get along with Peck, and Mullen said constituents have been pressuring him to make the motion he did.

At the May 23 meeting, Didier told Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant that he wants him to step aside from reviewing the VEBA-health insurance situation involving Peck. Mullen also wants Sant off the case.

Didier and Mullen told Sant that they didn’t want him involved because he and his wife are friends with the Pecks.

Didier also said he wants the situation reviewed directly by the state Attorney General’s Office.

Shawn Sant insisted there is no conflict of interest and that he plans to get outside legal advice, as well as get reviews from the state AG and state Auditor’s Office.

Those assurances aren’t good enough for Didier and Mullen, however.

They have no real power over Shawn Sant — he is an elected official like they are and beholden only to the voters. But such distrust undermines public faith in county operations, and that’s a problem.

The arguing at meetings is hard to watch, and the claims of bullying are tough to stomach.

The commissioners need to behave better in public. Their squabbling appears petty, and it is getting in the way of finding solutions to major problems facing Franklin County.