Benton testifies rumors of staff reorganization didn’t worry him By Jessica Prokop, Columbian Assistant Metro Editor
Published: May 7, 2021, 6:10pm
Share: Don Benton waits for opening statements in his lawsuit trial against the county Monday at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)
Don Benton, the former director of the county’s now-defunct Department of Environmental Services, had heard rumblings of a department reorganization or dissolution as early as 2014, he testified Friday.
Additionally, about a week before he filed a whistleblower complaint with the county’s human resources director, an employee emailed him voicing concerns about a reorganization.
Clark County worker: Benton whistleblower complaint not factor in layoff
Ex-state senator also testifies, says ‘I was being treated like a criminal’ By Jessica Prokop, Columbian Assistant Metro Editor
Published: May 6, 2021, 6:51pm
Share: Don Benton, right, is pictured during the lawsuit trial Tuesday afternoon at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)
A former county employee who helped carry out the layoffs of Don Benton and two of his employees told a jury Thursday she was never concerned the trio was terminated for being whistleblowers.
Marlia Jenkins testified she became aware Benton had filed a whistleblower complaint with the county human resources director well after the county manager had decided to reorganize the Department of Environmental Services and end his employment.
Jury hears opening statements in Benton suit against Clark County By Jessica Prokop, Columbian Assistant Metro Editor, and
Jack Heffernan, Columbian county government and small cities reporter
Published: May 5, 2021, 7:05pm
Share:
5 Photos Plaintiffs Chris Clifford, clockwise from left, Don Benton and Susan Rice pause to talk during a break from the lawsuit trial Wednesday at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian) Photo Gallery
Don Benton and two of his employees were laid off from their county jobs less than two weeks after Benton filed a whistleblower complaint about his boss with the county’s Human Resources Department, his attorney said Wednesday.
Jury selection begins in Don Benton lawsuit against county
Judge, attorneys question potential jurors for trial By Jack Heffernan, Columbian county government and small cities reporter
Published: May 3, 2021, 6:22pm
Share: Judge Gregory Gonzales listens during jury selection in the trial involving former Clark County official Don Benton on Monday at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds. Benton, also a former Republican state senator, and two former county employees brought a lawsuit against the county regarding their termination. (The Columbian) State Sen. Don Benton at the legislative outlook breakfast at the Vancouver Hilton Friday December 11, 2015. (Natalie Behring/The Columbian)