Pamplin Media Group – Former allies go public with their criticism of Kathryn Harrington

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Washington County is paying a workplace investigator to investigate the county chairman’s mistreatment of staff.

KOIN 6 News has learned that Washington County has hired an independent investigator to look into the behavior of its highest elected official, Kathryn Harrington.

The county is already paying Harrington’s former chief of staff, Elizabeth Mazzara Myers, nearly $80,000 in salary and legal fees after Mazzara Myers accused Harrington of creating a toxic work environment.

Other local leaders question Harrington’s ability to lead and have said his continued behavior is part of a pattern. A former colleague said she could help the county by stepping down.

“One of the first to approve”

Dick Schouten spent 20 years as Washington County Commissioner. He said he agreed with Harrington on politics during the two years they overlapped.

“I was actually one of the very first people to approve it,” Schouten told KOIN 6 News. “I think in terms of her dealings with senior executives, with other members of the community and with elected officials, she was hot-tempered, was very disrespectful and just doesn’t have that ability to work well with others.”

What Schouten saw echoes what KOIN 6 News reported in December.

KOIN 6 News has now obtained a document that shows Washington County will pay attorney Michael V. Tom of NW Workplace Investigations up to $25,000 for a year to investigate Harrington’s treatment of county employees. .

Harrington’s questionable behavior dates back to her years as an elected member of the Metro Council. In 2015, the Metro president told Harrington in a letter that she was “creating an atmosphere of fear, hostility, anxiety and emotional distress.”

In part of a letter to the county from Mazzara Myers’ attorney, County Commissioner Pam Treece was quoted, “I’m sorry and please don’t second guess. … It’s a trend which should not continue.”

Schouten said a flyer showing the county brought in a mediator for “team development” was an indication of the rift Harrington caused between county commissioners.

“We didn’t have issues like this in the past,” he said.

Schouten pointed to a Facebook post Harrington wrote on a page that promotes women in politics: “Bravo for resisting the status quo! officials 100% of the time, it’s real! Last year, I supported a longtime colleague challenged by a very good candidate. Lesson learned…”

The message continues to encourage a slate of women to run for office before ending: “Crush the patriarchy here in Washington County!”

This post, from January 2020, came at a time when Washington County was working to promote equity and inclusion.

“Our ability to work well declined significantly after he joined the board. And I mostly attributed that to him,” he told KOIN 6 News.

“It doesn’t help if you’re intimidating”

Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway felt compelled to speak out after hearing from people concerned about their interactions with Harrington and the cities’ ability to work with Washington County.

“People are happy, as I mentioned, that your story highlights some of those concerns,” Callaway said.

Cornelius City Manager Rob Drake – who served as Beaverton’s long-time mayor – agrees.

“It doesn’t help if you’re bullying people or being dismissive,” Drake said.

He worries about how he and the manager of his library were treated by Harrington when they raised a funding and equity issue with him.

“We came up with a solution and it was all turned down and it was a surprise,” Drake said. “That’s all.”

When asked if she was hostile, Drake replied, “I think ‘dismissive’ is probably a better word.”

North Plains Mayor Teri Lenahan endorsed Harrington the first time she ran for president of Washington County. But she is one of three mayors who sat down with Harrington to discuss how she treated the county’s town mayors at their long-running monthly meetings meant to build collaboration.

After the meeting, Lenahan said, Harrington’s demeanor improved. But she said there was still friction between Harrington and some mayors.

To resign?

This time, Lenahan doesn’t approve of Kathryn Harrington.

“I’m troubled by what I’ve seen and experienced, because you don’t treat people that way,” she told KOIN 6 News.

When asked if she should step down, Lenahan replied, “I think the voters should really decide.”

“I think it really calls into question, you know, whether somebody should go on or not,” Callaway said. “And so I’m not saying at this point that she should quit, but I’m saying certainly the pattern of behavior is pretty, is quite concerning.”

Drake said, “I’m a big believer in democracy as it is and the voters will decide that, its fate.”

Schouten was much less circumspect.

“I think it would actually help the county if she did. But again, she certainly didn’t do anything unethical or dishonest, you usually think of a resignation,” Schouten said. “But I think there’s a significant failure there, so I think she would be helping the county if she did.”

Harrington won re-election in May against Beach Pace, who is currently a Hillsboro City Council member.

Pace is endorsed by Callaway and Lenahan.

KOIN 6 News has repeatedly reached out to Kathryn Harrington for an interview for this story. She refused.

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on the website of KOIN 6 News, the press partner of Pamplin Media Group.

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