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City of Lynnwood Releases Report on Investigation of Mayor. And, Well… It’s Pretty Insane

Politics   August 13, 2010 at 10:41 am Erica C. Barnett

The Everett Herald follows up their story (which I mentioned earlier this week) about the investigation of Lynnwood Mayor Don Gough, who was censured and asked to resign by the city council over allegations that he had harassed an employee and interfered with an investigation into her allegations. They report that the city of Lynnwood has finally released the report. And, well … it’s pretty insane. Here are just a few of the investigation’s findings:

• Although he was told not to discuss the investigation with employees who might be witnesses, Gough did just that, demanding that employees help him respond to the investigation and even showing up at one employee’s house.

• The investigation upheld allegations by one of Gough’s former employees that he had mistreated her, but was inconclusive on the question of whether he had done so based on her gender. Gough was fond of referring to the employee who complained as the “queen bee,” and another employee as “the ice queen.” In a separate ruling, an administrative law judge found that Gough “verbally abuses and demeans” female employees at the city. The former employee also said he frequently yelled at her, swore at her, and otherwise verbally abused her and other employees.

• Gough falsely told investigators that he had not seen a 2009 memo prepared by the city’s late former HR directro, Robin Hall, when not only had he seen the memo, he had provided copies of it to witnesses.

• While he was supposed to be on vacation, Gough showed up and camped out in the HR offices where investigators were interviewing witnesses. “From this location, he was able to see the witnesses coming and going and freely interacted with them,” asking them substantive questions about the investigation, the report says. Investigators were forced to cancel several interviews out of concern about the witnesses.


  • Jakers

    Folks in Lynnwood: This kind of person doesn't resign, it's time to start the removal process.

  • Guest

    Be careful taking “facts” straight out of the Everett rag. Nothing major, but their reading comprehension is pretty shotty.

    You state: Gough was fond of referring to the employee who complained as the “queen bee,” and another employee as “the ice queen.”

    This is reported by the Herald as a finding by the investigator. That's not the case. It was an allegation that isn't substantiated in the report.

    You also state: Gough falsely told investigators that he had not seen a 2009 memo prepared by the city’s late former HR directro, Robin Hall, when not only had he seen the memo, he had provided copies of it to witnesses.

    This is how the Herald article interprets the report, but it is inaccurate. The report actually states that Gough ordered the drafting of the memo, but that he “likely had not seen the actual document before it was provided to him in this investigation” (pg. 7). As for providing it to witnesses, that happened during the investigation (not back when the memo was drafted).

    Nothing I'm saying changes the conclusion that, based on the report, he acted like a jerk and probably tried to tamper with the investigation. It would be nice, though, if the Herald were a little more careful in sorting out “facts” that will ultimately end someone's career. Even the career of a jerk.

  • James

    Frankly, this all seems sort of minor. Calling someone and “ice queen” or “queen bee” is mild. I know a lot of people that refer to themselves humorously with those types of descriptions.

  • Jakers

    It's inappropriate at work to do it. Self deprecating humor is very different than a boss making a subordinate listen to his belittling comments.

  • James

    Even if it might have crossed some sort of line at work, it does not seem to me that it would rise to the level of demanding the mayor resign.

    The guy might be a jerk, but he is the jerk that the voters elected. The proper way to remove him is at the next election.

    The problem I have with any city council doing this is because most of them want to be mayor. It is easier to accomplish that if they tar the sitting mayor.

    Just my opinion.

  • Barleywine

    “Ice Queen” is cold. “Queen Bee” is a complement.

    “ice, ice, baby” is inappropriate. So.

  • Donolectic

    “ice, ice, baby” is inappropriate.”

    So well played.

  • this is disgusting

    Inappropriate or not, the Mayor needs to be more respectful to people. He is the Mayor! Mayor should be held to a higher standard. We need to NOT elect him in the next election. I didn’ elect him this last time. Mayor should run for one term, if they can’t do the job, we need someone who can. My tax dollars feeds his pockets, not to mention the city council.