Remove Councilor Sasse from Canby's City Council
Mayor Brain Hodson, Council President Traci Hensley, Councilor James Davis, Councilor James Padden, Councilor Daniel Stearns and Councilor Herman Maldonado
Everybody has a right to a work environment free of sexual harassment. This is true whether you work for a small business, a large corporation, or in the public sector. Earlier this year, one of our members at the City of Canby bravely came forward with a serious allegation of sexual harassment by a city councilor. Following an HR investigation, their allegations were found to be true. Yet, the City Councilor in question has refused to step down, and the rest of the City Council has not held him accountable.
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To:
Mayor Brain Hodson, Council President Traci Hensley, Councilor James Davis, Councilor James Padden, Councilor Daniel Stearns and Councilor Herman Maldonado
From:
[Your Name]
Earlier this year, you were all made aware that one of your members had been found to have violated the City's sexual harassment policy in an interaction with one of the City's employees. You were told this during executive session and were given time to react in an acceptable manner. Instead this council has chosen to remain silent and take no action regarding this serious breach of decency and public trust.
Our union President then came to speak to all of you during the council meeting on June 5th to ask you to lead this community and to stand up and say that sexual harassment is not ok at the City of Canby. Instead Mayor Hodson said that you were all speaking with the city attorney. Not one member of council had the bravery or leadership to condemn sexual harassment by one of their members, and instead you all continue to go about business as usual as if nothing has happened.
This is completely unacceptable. Everyone, regardless of gender or job title, has the right to work in an environment that is free from unwanted touch and comments about their body. Those employed with the City of Canby are no exception. We are not living in a 1950's bygone era where women need to grit their teeth and smile through sexual harassment in the workplace. Still, with all of the progress we've made at treating each other with decency in the last 70 years, when a powerful man sexually harasses someone, the result is largely the same. The silence from this body has been deafening.
As union members, and members of the community, we are demanding that this council take action. We demand that Councilor Sasse resign. And if he will not resign, we demand that the rest of this council expel him. The City Charter says that Council can expel a member for good cause, and the breaking of such a fundamental rule and trust should rise to that standard.
We further request that Council begin to repair the damage done by their inaction. All employees of the city need to know that their dignity is not up for grabs simply by walking in the door.