Re: "Mayor subject of harassment complaint" in Dec. 19 Star

I respect the electorate. Some had vetted — and others did not. And for my good reasons, I voted the minority (Gayle Swagerty) for mayor, based on my own vetting process … and she lost. After all, “it’s just an election”… and in a small community we expect changes of policy and paradigms. It’s a process — and an expected outcome. However, from that, it offers nothing until the future actions define it … and I, for one, am now redefined and very much awake! You should be too.

Yes, I took the time to vet the process for both candidates: I did the research, vacated of the rumors and gossip. You should have done the same. Gayle was an active and involved councilwoman, working by example. To me, this vetting was easy and clear, and I supported her and her platform. On the other hand, the opposing candidate was aggressively supported by a few past and current council persons, including a sitting councilman subject to his own harassment claims.

Unfortunately, Coulee Dam has a history of harassment complaints. Prior to my term, there were a number of filed complaints, including two specifically by/for that mentioned councilman. Subsequent to that, the same councilman was the cause of yet another harassment complaint filed with the state during my term. Those actions led to the eventual closure/service of our ambulance services. These records should be available via public records; … ask for them.

Was this a logical nexus between the campaign and the outcome? Certainly not! However, and but with that said, the “good-old-boy” paradigm defines what we now have — a return to Mayor Snow’s 16-year realm … we are now back to the majority of the daft and ignorant and in fear of productive change.

And lastly, Larry Price resigned from “health issues.” Of course, that’s a ruse. As to me, I served the town for my full term. I remained active by supporting [the campaign for] a different/new mayor (a woman).

We men (and less so for women) often have a proclivity for the insensitive choice of words. For me? I’m not an innocent either — I have tended to use emphasis to make a point, typically in the form of expletives. And, in full disclosure, I have shared (defined as inappropriate) verbal humor within the workplace from time to time … but not as unwelcome workplace humor. All of us falter and forget; we trip on an unthoughtful word or comment. You know when your heart slaps your mind across its face. You apologize, you change, and you repair. It’s clear that the Coulee Dam harassment events have ignored and denied … we deserve better.

That said, you know there are myriad definitions, so what is considered “harassment” is broad in policy, rule, civil slander/libel, and even true criminal actions (which include the physical touch). Although shared/welcome “edged” humor is rarely used as actionable, forced or unwelcome words and actions can, and often do, become a cause to civil and/or criminal penalties. Other forms of “harassment” are more heinous by nature: the deliberate creation and use of fear, forced use or threat of/for sex, physical control or even the threat of it — and that includes the threat about employment. AND there are third-party employees who also may be subject to policy and rules by failure to protect the subordinate employees. And lastly, the offended employee also has a role and responsibility to say “no,” with caveats. With all of this, every case, every action, and every violation is unique within a broad range of the policy, rule, and law.

Beginning in 2018, the Coulee Dam City Hall has been plagued by a pattern of sexual harassment, including threats regarding employment; consider the daily barrage of “filthy” jokes, the threats of hires/fires, and then physically grabbing from behind an employee under the pretense of having sex from behind. To me that is not just a “civil” claim, resulting in loss to the town’s treasury, but should (also) make whole by awarding pecuniary action to the employee, AND ensure that Mr. Price should be a cause for payment and confinement.

F. Gregory (Greg) Wilder

Coulee Dam Mayor

(2014-17)