Could Commissioner Clouse’s suspension be decided in court? Her attorney says it might

Thurston County Commissioner Emily Clouse may take legal action against her peers on the County Board if they don’t lift her suspension soon, her attorney said.

Maia Robbins said her client is “understandably frustrated” by three seatmates’ reluctance to reinstate her to her appointed boards and commissions. Her comments came after a motion at a Tuesday meeting to end Clouse’s suspension failed to gain traction.

“Enough is enough,” Robbins said. “If these three Commissioners do not stop their anti-democratic efforts to prevent Commissioner Clouse from doing the job she was elected to do, Commissioner Clouse reserves the right to pursue legal action against these three Commissioners who are seeking to overturn the will of the voters.

“While this is not a step Commissioner Clouse would take lightly, she will not be unjustly sidelined from her duties by less progressive voices on the Commission.”

Commissioner Tye Menser, who chairs the County Board, made the motion to reinstate Clouse on Tuesday. The attempt followed a close-door meeting last Thursday where the board heard the results of a third-party investigation into a relationship between Clouse and a county employee.

Menser said Tuesday that the “inflammatory” allegations that prompted Clouse’s suspension were “unsubstantiated” and it would be “unconscionable” for the board to continue to prevent Clouse from doing her job.

But Commissioners Wayne Fournier, Carolina Mejia and Gary Edwards said they were not ready to act on the matter. For his part, Fournier said he wanted to hold off on any action until a written report could be finalized and the county could craft an official response.

“Let’s just try to finish this out, walk, don’t run and in a week or two, the chips fall wherever they fall,” Fournier said.

Robbins said Clouse recused herself from the Thursday meeting and has been cooperating with the investigation. She accused Clouse’s board peers of political machinations and not wanting to admit they were wrong to suspend Clouse.

“Commissioners Fournier, Mejia, and Edwards refused to take the advice of their attorneys and are deliberately ignoring the results of that investigation to further their own political agendas,” Robbins said.

The Olympian has asked Fournier, Mejia and Edwards to respond to Robbins’ statement.

Fournier, Mejia and Edwards voted to temporarily suspend Clouse on Aug. 13. Fournier and Edwards described their actions as a precautionary measure. Mejia publicly said she did not vote to suspend Clouse for political gain at the Aug. 20 board meeting.

Menser did not attend the Aug. 13 meeting, citing legal advice against it, and has said he would not have voted to suspend Clouse.

This story was originally published September 4, 2024 at 11:28 AM.

Martín Bilbao

The Olympian

(360) 715-2209

Martín Bilbao reports on Thurston County government, courts and breaking news. He joined The Olympian in November 2020 and previously worked for The Bellingham Herald and Daily Bruin. He was born in Ecuador and grew up in California. Support my work with a digital subscription