West Jordan councilwoman accuses mayor of sexual discrimination


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WEST JORDAN — Accusations of hostility and sexual discrimination against the West Jordan mayor have surfaced from a city councilwoman, though she never meant for the allegations to go public.

City Councilwoman Sophie Rice originally sent the complaints to West Jordan Police Chief Doug Diamond and the city's human resources department in April. However, a fellow council member Thursday sent an email containing the four-page document detailing Rice's highly personal accounts to all of the city's roughly 500 employees.

The email, obtained by Deseret News on Thursday, was apparently sent by City Councilman Jeff Haaga. Shortly after the email was circulated, Haaga followed it with another email stating, "disregard."

But Rice said Friday she doesn't believe the all-staff email was sent accidentally, and now she fears retaliation in an already contentious work environment at West Jordan City Hall.

Haaga did not respond to email or phone inquires Thursday or Friday.

"Within that document, I said I fear retaliation if it were to go public or if those people (I accused) were to get ahold of it," Rice said. "And he sent it to those people. To me, that feels like retaliation for having sent that document in the first place. … This document should have never been released."

It's the latest episode of turmoil that has plagued West Jordan city government for more than a year. Over the past 14 months, a power struggle has emerged between the City Council, Mayor Kim Rolfe and Bryce Haderlie, who was interim city manager at the time.

Comments and actions by some city leaders in City Council meetings have even been characterized as verbally belligerent.

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Rice was appointed to the City Council in April, and she claims it was then that she first experienced a culture of intimidation and enmity within the city.

Rice says Rolfe asked her a sexist question in her appointment interview before he voted against her, the only female candidate.

"He asked me whether getting this appointment would damage my family," she wrote in her complaint. "I was aghast. That is an illegal interview question … and it could be considered gender discrimination."

During a closed session of the City Council on April 17, Rice said she felt "personally attacked" by Rolfe, and the meeting was conducted in a manner that led her to "fear" for herself, her family, other council members and certain staff members.

"I cannot under the law disclose what was discussed in that meeting, but I now understand the interview question that Mayor Rolfe asked me, whether being on (the) City Council would damage my family."

In her complaint, Rice also said she felt the city had become a hostile work environment because of an "agenda" from Rolfe and Haaga to have the mayor become a "strong mayor" by changing the city's form of government.

"The staff needs help, I need help and the city needs help. If people back down to intimidation, it's not going to stop," she said. "There is a pattern of retaliation, a culture of fear, and it's very damaging to not just our city's reputation but to our morale."

Rice said Friday that she's been waiting for investigations from the city, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office and the Utah Attorney General's Office to address her concerns.


He asked me whether getting this appointment would damage my family. I was aghast. That is an illegal interview question … and it could be considered gender discrimination.

–City Councilwoman Sophie Rice


Diamond confirmed Friday that the city is investigating Rice's claims, but he declined to say more. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill also confirmed Friday that his office is conducting ongoing investigations, but the Utah Attorney General's Office did not immediately return requests for confirmation.

Rice said her lawyer advised her that she would have a winning case if she were to sue the city for harassment, but she said she has no intention to sue.

"I'm just trying to do my best to right the wrongs and help the city get past this to heal," she said.

Rolfe said he was "shocked" when he read the all-staff email. At first, he believed it was fake, he said, until his staff confirmed to him that it was a real complaint written by Rice.

"It's factually inaccurate," Rolfe said. "I don't believe in any way, shape or form any of it's true."

Of Rice's claims that the city houses a climate of intimidation and retaliation, the mayor said, "I don't know where that's coming from."

"There are no threats at this city," he said. "I believe that there are personalities that are involved in this, and certain likes and dislikes of certain ways of doing things. … But I have felt really good about where we've been in the last few weeks, especially since we've made the choice of a new city manager."

Last month, the West Jordan City Council named Mark R. Palesh as city manager. Former city manager Richard Davis resigned suddenly in August 2014 amid controversy.

The mayor said he wasn't aware of any investigations other than one he brought to the district attorney on an unrelated matter. He called the allegations of retaliation and intimidation "kooky."

"I'm still hoping for the council to work together with our city manager in a professional manner, and I'd like to get away from these poisonous attacks from anyone to anyone," Rolfe said.

Contributing: Andrew Adams

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