A GOP legislator has been dismissed from her day job. Do to an “unauthorized use of county email” Jacque Clements, former Clinton County Auditor and current State Rep for HD 38 was summarily removed from her position as Deputy Auditor by the Clinton County Commissioners.
From the Frankfort Times:
The Clinton County Commissioners have terminated District 38 State Rep. Jacque Clements from her part-time position in the county auditor’s office, citing “unauthorized personal use” of the county’s e-mail network.
On Monday, the commissioners conducted an emergency meeting, at which time Clements was relieved of her deputy role in the Auditor’s Office. The Times was not properly notified of this meeting.
Clements served as a deputy auditor since her election to the Indiana House of Representatives last November. Prior to her election to the statehouse, Clements had served as Clinton County Auditor since 2004.
…..
County Council President Steve Woods said the commissioners reacted with good reason.
“We’re just trying to protect ourselves from possible legal actions,” he said. “The company (Nikish) we have been dealing with has been dealing with roadblocks … Some decisions were made by the commissioners to protect Clinton County.”
Clements became the State Rep candidate to replace Jim Buck on the November ballot after he stepped down to take over the State Senate position formerly held by Jeff Drozda.
But it wasn’t exactly as simple as that. Because, Clements only replaced Buck on the ballot. Heath Vannatter was actually chosen to fill out Buck’s term.
Confused?
Going back into the Hoosier Access archives, I found this tip which we received about the caucus to replace Buck:
(Read more after the leap)
Just when you couldn’t believe that Republican politics couldn’t get any more bizarre comes the House District 38 caucus to replace Jim Buck. I am a clinton co. precinct committeeman and I could not believe what happened. Clinton Co. held a pre-caucus caucus on Tuesday to narrow our three candidates down to one. We have 38 precincts so winning should have been easy. The first vote was to replace Rep. Buck as a sitting representative.
In a big surprise, Howard County candidate Heath Vanatter beat Jacque Clements 28-25. Next up was a vote to replace Buck on the fall ballot. Before the vote could be taken, our chairman, Bev. Bush called all of the Clinton County committeemen into a room and demanded the resignations of anyone who voted for Vanatter. She also threatened to replace anyone who did not support Clements on the second vote. Several of us resigned our positions. The ballot filling vote went to Clements by a 28-25 total. It was the most embarrassing thing I have ever witnessed. I was ashamed to be a Republican and from Clinton County. Clements tried to withdraw from the second vote but the caucus chair, Sandi Huddleston would not allow it.
Looks like Sandi Huddleston should have allowed Clements to withdraw after all.
As it stands, the rest of Clements time as a State Rep. will be tarnished. But recently, I had the pleasure of attending the Howard County Lincoln Day dinner. I was pleased to see Heath Vannatter there, and that he was again running for HD 38. Needless to say, Clements should not consider running for re-election.
Sorry but the BOFH in me is skeptical. “Unauthorized Email Use” is something nearly everyone does. I’d like to see Clinton County try to claim Rep. Clements is the only employee who sent or received a joke, or picture, or whatever.
Their email logs should be public information. Their email (clintonco.com) is hosted by a company called Advanced Computer and Communication Systems, Inc. in Frankfort. Just saying….
This is all about an illicit romance, conflict of interest, unauthorized payments to a lover/software salesman and obstruction of a sboa and county investigation. Emails have been given to press. Karma is he’ll!
Interesting. All that and it comes down to an IT policy violation.
As in so many counties in Indiana, the GOP chairs need to be replaced and removed. Heavy handed caucuses, even secret dealings, should be a thing of the past. We’ll keep getting poor leaders, boring incumbents, and big losses if the Indiana GOP is going to be run like this.
Remember, Al Capone got put away on income tax evasion.
“Unauthorized Email Use” is something nearly everyone does. I’d like to see Clinton County try to claim Rep. Clements is the only employee who sent or received a joke, or picture, or whatever.
It depends on how widespread her “unauthorized” use was. It isn’t unusual for a personnel policy in the public or private sector to allow “de minimus” use of company resources for personal use – making a phone call for a doctor’s appointment, an email to one’s spouse saying you have to work over, etc.
But if an employee is using company resources – web access, email or phone, among other things – to an unreasonable extent that interferes with work, that’s another story.
Public institutions often forbid the use of a work computer for political purposes. If someone is using a work email to coordinate political activity, even on a lunch break, that could be grounds for discipline.
Note that I am speaking generically, not specifically.
Clements fired from county position
Representative accused of ‘unauthorized personal use’ of e-mail network
By KEN de la BASTIDE
Tribune enterprise editor
Already facing a tough primary challenge in 2010, State Rep. Jacque Clements, R-38th District, was fired this week from her part-time job in the Clinton County Auditor’s Office.
Clements was terminated Monday by Clinton County commissioners for “unauthorized personal use” of the county’s e-mail network.
Since 2004, the year she was elected Clinton County auditor, Clements sent or forwarded approximately 10,000 e-mails. Of those, some pertained to the county’s decision to switch software companies.
Clements is accused of violating the county’s electronic policy concerning e-mails authored or received by her and allegations of leaking information to Nikish Software Corp., which was contracted with the county to provide software services.
Clements could not be reached for comment.
The allegations say Clements leaked information about an investigation into the New York-based company by state and Clinton County officials.
In 2007, Nikish was awarded a two-year contract to provide software for Clinton County’s property tax preparation and assessment.
Nikish was awarded the contract at Clements’ recommendation, said county attorney Ted Johnson. Clements told county officials that Manatron, which was previously providing the software, wanted $231,000 to upgrade to the new state standard, but that Nikish would do the work for $99,000.
Johnson continued to say that Clements, while serving as county auditor, recommended in an almost campaign-like fashion that the county hire the company.
“The real focus is on the software,” Johnson said. “There are problems we’re facing with the conversion. They never delivered. There were problems from the beginning.”
County officials now want Nikish to transfer the data from their software to Manatron. According to Johnson, the company isn’t cooperating.
He said Nikish was willing to convert the data but wanted the county to pay for the services.
Nikish sent Clinton County a final proposal on April 2 seeking $23,000 for support services; and would provide Flat File extracts for $50,000.
In addition to getting the Clinton County contract for Nikish, Clements recommended the company for use by other counties at an auditor’s conference.
“Thank you for your endorsement at the Auditor’s Conference,” a company representative said in an e-mail sent to Clements in May 2007.
Between April 3 and April 5, Nikish paid for Clements to stay at a hotel in Commack, N.Y., where the company is headquartered.
A sampling of the e-mails obtained by the Kokomo Tribune through a Freedom of Information request also showed that as early as 2005, Clements maintained a personal, intimate relationship with a Nikish employee.
Craig Dunn, chairman of the Howard County Republican Party, said the relationship between Clements and the Nikish employee appears to be a conflict of interest.
“At the least it is a breach of a minimal code of ethics,” he said. “I’m disappointed this happened. I’m concerned.”
Dunn said it doesn’t look good for Clements, but he was not rushing to judgment on whether Clements should resign from the Indiana House.
“We need more details,” he said. “She was dismissed for violation of the Clinton County Electronics Use policy. I would guess this is the visible point of the iceberg. We need to know the complete story.”
It’s been a contentious road to the Indiana House chambers from the start.
When Sen. Jeff Drozda resigned from the District 21 seat, Rep. Jim Buck was elected to complete the term in a Republican Party caucus. Clements was opposed by Kokomo resident Heath VanNatter to complete Buck’s term in the House.
That caucus elected VanNatter to complete Buck’s term, but after what was described as “backdoor politicking” by Clinton County GOP chairman Beverley Bush, Clements was placed on the 2008 ballot. She defeated Democrat Bob Snow in the general election.
VanNatter has already announced his intention to oppose Clements in the 2010 primary election for the party’s nomination.
“I had questions about her judgment and past performance as auditor as the result of Indiana State Board of Accounts audits,” Dunn said. “I believe Heath is more qualified. This is a matter to be handled by Clinton County authorities.”
VanNatter said Friday he didn’t know what impact Clements’ firing would have on the campaign.
“If I’m elected I won’t abuse the public’s trust,” he said. “I was a little surprised and disappointed. You expect more from a public official.”
On Monday, Clinton County Commissioners will discuss several violations of State Statute involving Clements, including a $55,000 unappropriated payment to her paramour’s firm. Informed Clinton County sources say charges will be filed.
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