Montgomery County employees accuse Human Rights boss of waste and abuse
By: Alan Suderman
Examiner Staff Writer
November 8, 2009
Workers in Montgomery County's Office of Human Rights are asking county officials to investigate their boss, who they say is wasting taxpayer money and abusing his staff.
But county Human Rights Director Jim Stowe said he is moving the office in a "very positive direction" and complaints concerning his treatment of employees or spending practices have no merit.
Stowe became head of the Office of Human Rights last fall, which is tasked with investigating possible cases of discrimination. Complaints from his staff started during his first week on the job, said Doug Menapace, a field representative for Municipal and County Government Employees Organization, the union that has asked the county to investigate complaints against Stowe.
Stowe denied that there was any ill-will in his office, but added that "change is always one of the things that's always toughest to manage."
"This is a very different style than people are accustomed to, I will say that," he said.
But several employees told The Examiner that Stowe has used the office for his own gain and has destroyed the morale of the once tightly-knit office.
"He's running this office like it's his own personal fiefdom in order to further his own political goals," said Pete Mitchell, an office investigator who has complained about being kicked out of his office and being unfairly overlooked for promotion.
Mitchell and other employees, who asked not to be identified because they were afraid of losing their jobs, called a renovation of Stowe's office unnecessary and said his out-of-state trips have little to do with his job.
Menapace said the small office, which has about 18 staff members and a budget of $2 million, is split between supporting Stowe and opposing him.
The County's Web site shows that Stowe went to conferences in Montreal and Atlanta this summer. Stowe said both trips were work-related. The travel costs for the trip to Canada were paid for by an outside organization, and the county paid for the travel costs to Atlanta, he said.
The Examiner requested information related to office renovations and Stowe's expenses two months ago. The records have not been made available.
Stowe said he would not discuss details of his expenses until after they were released by the county's public information office.
He also declined to make any of his employees available for interview. After The Examiner started calling employees in early September, Stowe's aide sent an e-mail to employees telling them that all inquires from the media needed to go through management.
