Davis County leader censured for hostile conduct hopes county can 'rise above this friction'

FARMINGTON — Last week's public censure of Davis County Commissioner John Crofts stemming from his hostile conduct with numerous county officials and employees didn't end discussion on the issue.

It reemerged at the county commission meeting last Tuesday, when Layne Kamalu, husband of County Commissioner Lorene Kamalu, called on him to resign during the public comment section of the gathering. Four other Davis County residents also spoke out, variously lauding Crofts as accessible and singling out what they say is his focus on trying to reduce taxes.

In comments to KSL, Crofts — who took office in January 2025 — minimized the findings of an independent investigation into his conduct and seemed to take aim at his fellow commissioners.

"This is just politics at its worst. They currently have the votes to play these games," he said in an email. "As far as I'm concerned, the public has already challenged the action. People have come to support me."

He also offered conciliatory remarks, however, though he has strenuously pushed back against the findings of the probe, which came to public light late last May.

"I have already committed to reaching out to those I may have offended along the way. The bottom line is that I want to stop this pattern of attempting to ruin the lives of those who disagree with the status quo," he said. "Let's rise above this friction and build a more transparent, effective future for Davis County. I appreciate those who have already reached out to me. My door is always open."

Commissioner Bob Stevenson, for his part, hopes the county is able to move past the flare-up prompted by Crofts' conduct and the probe into him. Despite everything, he maintains that county operations are running smoothly.

"We have to go through a healing process," Stevenson said. "Hopefully here in a little bit we'll have everything where it needs to be."

Lorene Kamalu — one of various targets of potentially defamatory comments by Crofts, according to the investigation — didn't immediately respond to a query seeking comment.

The investigation into Crofts, sought by Davis County human resources officials and the county's legal advisors, stemmed from concerns and complaints about him raised by multiple current and former county employees. It was carried out by a Salt Lake City law firm Strong and Hanni, and news of the matter publicly emerged in late May.

On July 7, Commissioner Lorene Kamalu read a letter of censure aimed at Crofts from the County Commission office, which said he had been removed from his supervisory duties over any county employees. Kamalu and Stevenson also voted to remove him as chairman of the county commission at the meeting, moving Stevenson into the post. Furthermore, Stevenson said Friday that Crofts has been removed from his liaison responsibilities to other county offices and departments, at least for now.

'A toxic work environment'

The findings of the five-month Strong and Hanni investigation, summarized in a March 25 report, were based on interviews of 26 people, including Crofts, former and current Davis County employees and other former co-workers of Crofts.

Crofts, according to the investigation, could be hostile and derisive to county employees, which factored in the decision of some to resign, and he would make potentially defamatory remarks about other county officials, including Kamalu, Davis County Clerk Brian McKenzie and Curtis Koch, the former county controller. He would ask workers about their political and religious affiliation, making workers uncomfortable, and the investigation alluded to an apparent "hit list" of foes he had. He also took particular umbrage at a pride flag hung at a county library and the library director.

"Nearly every witness that I interviewed experienced what they termed a hostile work environment. This includes being yelled at, being told they are a liar to their face, having their job threatened due to their political affiliation, being attacked and slandered in public meetings if they disagree with his views and being publicly accused of both criminal and personal misconduct," reads the investigation summary.

In his initial response last May to the probe, Crofts said it was "riddled with inaccuracies, exaggerations, omissions and claims that are plainly untrue" though he didn't identify any of them. He also stressed that it "exonerates me of any illegal doings whatsoever."

The county commission censure letter Kamalu read at the July 7 meeting said county workers started reporting "inappropriate behavior" by Crofts starting in January 2025, soon after he took office. When the commissioners brought the issue up with him, she said, he "failed to produce any evidence rebutting the claims of egregious behavior or to otherwise defend himself."

His defenders at last Tuesday's meeting praised Crofts for pressing to reduce taxes and characterized him as accessible to constituents.

"As far as I'm concerned, he's the only one on this committee that's actually trying to do what's right for the people of Davis County and trying to make sure we have a voice in what happens," said Irene Hill of Layton.

Kamalu's husband, Layne Kamalu, had another take.

"One individual, one, has created a toxic work environment that permeates the entire organization. Because he cannot be fired, the damage has been significant," Layne Kamalu said. He went on, calling for Crofts to do "what is right for Davis County. I call for Commissioner Crofts' resignation."

Related topics