Deb Roschen, an ally of state representative Steve Drazkowski who was once his campaign manager, is fighting for her political life (such as it is). After serving ten month on the Wabasha County board, she is the subject of a recall petition being circulated by local citizens.
While Roschen and her defenders denied any accusations and letters writers have made thinly veiled suggestions that anyone who signed the petition--especially public employees--would be subject to scrutiny themselves, the Winona Daily News was busily investigating the conflict.
After obtaining emails and other documents through a public records request, the WDN's Adam Voge reports in Commissioner accused of violating meetings law, overstepping authority:
In 10 months as a Wabasha County Commissioner Deb Roschen overstepped her authority by implying she would cut the county sheriff’s department’s budget after the sheriff did not support state legislation she favored, and sought to terminate a county social services employee after the employee blamed county budget cuts for a delay in services, according to documents and county officials.
She also formally accused the sheriff of harassment in September, then abruptly halted the ensuing investigation by declining to participate in it.
Roschen’s actions are detailed in emails and other documents obtained by the Daily News through a public-records request.
Read the whole article to get the full monty on this charming public official.
What was the legislation that prompted her budget cutting threats to the sheriff's office? From the article:
Bartsh said that in April Roschen implied she would cut his budget if he chose not to support a bill in the Minnesota Legislature that would have removed state mandates for staffing county jails and given authority to county sheriffs.
According to Roschen, Bartsh originally showed support for the bill, authored by Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa — for whom Roschen once worked as a campaign manager — then declined to testify in support. Bartsh said Wednesday he never supported the bill.
Roschen wrote him an email in April to express her disappointment. In the email, she wrote that it “seems to me that it would be prudent for the Sheriff to support this bill in order to save tax dollars. Without these measures County Boards will certainly need to look at where we can cut expenses.”
“Without the cooperation from department heads on opportunities like this the cuts will likely need to be deep and painful,” she wrote. “Something for you to ponder while there is still time to do the right thing!”
Roschen said Wednesday her message was meant to encourage cooperation, and that all departments had equal likelihood of facing cuts.
“That’s not a threat, that’s economics,” she said. “That’s me saying we have budget concerns and we need to work together or cuts will be made.”
In a email to Bartsh the next day, Roschen apologized for being “too quick to anger” and stressed the need to work together.
Bartsh said he originally read Roschen’s message as a direct threat and felt “bad things would come my way” if he didn’t cooperate, an interpretation he continues to stand by.
Bartsh makes a reasonable point. And Roschen seems to like punishing perceived opponents to her agenda. While two of the points in the petition are based on disputed minutes kept by County Administrator David Johnson, the official email record isn't pleasant.
Readers may remember Roschen's role in Draz's drive to repeal the Pay Equity Act (PEA). She famously argued that PEA doesn't protect women, but only provides equal pay for equal work. The horror!
(As Bluestem noted earlier this year, via the St. Cloud Times, the Winona Daily News reported that the law has actually had an impact for public employees. In the last 14 years, 96 resolved penalties brought just over $1.2 million in restitution to 1,300 employees and almost $210,000 in fines.)
Photo: Deb Roschen plays her tiny violin.
Amazing how some people think that e-mails remain unread by anyone other than the intended recipient. Printers are such wonderful devices.
While I am not a huge fan of recalls (despite what I have seen in other states), seeing someone who has obviously abused their power to be held accountable is a treat to behold.
Posted by: Mike Worcester | Nov 14, 2011 at 11:59 AM