Complaint against commissioner goes to prosecutor

Landrum wouldn’t comment Thursday evening on the event other than to say, “Something was said and I reported it as county policy demands. I was following county policy. If I didn’t, I’d be reprimanded.”

Carpenter admitted making the statement as hyperbole to make a point. She said she immediately apologized for the frustration she demonstrated and didn’t think it upset Landrum.

Landrum relayed the conversation to Commission President Charles Furmon, who said he filed a written report with county Prosecutor Michael Gmoser.

Contacted Thursday night, Gmoser said he would not comment on the issue.

Furmon said the county has a “zero tolerance” policy against any kind of threats in the work place, but because Carpenter is an elected official, it is not applicable. Carpenter said she’ll be careful in the future with “colorful” exaggerations.

Before Carpenter took office, the jobs held by Landrum, Administrator Bruce Jewett and Budget and Financial Planning Manager Tonyia Burnett were part of an alleged plan she and Commissioner Don Dixon developed. As part of such a plan, Landrum and Burnett would have been fired while Jewett would have been demoted and transferred.

Carpenter said her statement “was taken out of context” by Landrum. Carpenter said she has grown increasingly frustrated since the $190 million bond for the Kettering Health Network was approved a couple weeks ago.

“I was not informed about that at all,” Carpenter said. “When I came in, I got my agenda. Surprise.”

“I want to be educated about these issues before it happens. I have insisted upon learning how these decisions are made,” she said about issues presented to the board for vote.

“I’m still learning to be a commissioner. I’m still learning the job,” she said.

But said since she took office, Carpenter said she has had felt resistance with her fellow commissioners, Jewett and Landrum.

“Since I came on board, the commissioners have made it as difficult as possible, Bruce has made it as difficult as possible, Pete has made it as difficult as possible,” she said. “It is resistance, it is incredibly frustrating. It’s a dysfunctional office.”