TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A heads up for Leon County taxpayers \u2014 the hiring practices of the Leon County Attorney\u2019s office are under scrutiny, and a lawsuit could soon be filed.<\/p>\n
WCTV has obtained dueling memos and letters between Leon County Commissioner Caroyln Cummings and County Attorney Chasity O\u2019Steen. <\/p>\n
The county attorney says she cannot consider race or gender in hiring decisions, while Cummings said she felt like a recent memo was directed squarely at her.<\/p>\n
In the county attorney\u2019s memo, she writes, \u201cI cannot be more… clear. I have not, and do not… make hiring decisions based on race or gender…\u201d<\/p>\n
Cummings responded that the county attorney really just didn\u2019t want to be questioned about hiring practices.<\/p>\n
\u201cI accept her apology, but it\u2019s just almost impossible to accept an apology for something that you know was a deliberate, premeditated attack on you as a person, on your morals, on your dignity, on your integrity,\u201d Cummings said.<\/p>\n
The county attorney responded, saying, \u201cI have very high standards for the people who work in this office, just like Vince (Long) does for administrative staff, and I genuinely try to pick the most qualified candidate to fill a particular position.\u201d<\/p>\n
More Tallahassee news:<\/p>\n
In general, the other county commissioners called for calm, forgiveness and a meeting between Cummings and O\u2019Steen.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also do want to apologize to the board that this has even become an issue, that this has now taken time from the work and to detract from the work that this commission does,\u201d O\u2019Steen said.<\/p>\n
Another factor is a looming lawsuit from Juan Collins, an FSU law school grad and Tallahassee lawyer. Per an internal memo, Collins was not hired by the county attorney. He says he does \u201cplan to move forward with litigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do not want to comment on the facts because I do plan to move forward with litigation. The only thing I will say is that the County Attorney stated that I said I was going to file a lawsuit without knowing the qualifications of the person selected. In that regard the County Attorney told me the Agency for which the selected person worked. That Agency has a small legal office and I looked at all the attorneys that worked in the legal office and I feel that my qualifications were superior and that Agency also did not appear to have any African American attorneys as well. I was deeply disappointed in the County Attorney\u2019s decision. From my perspective when a person says race has nothing to do with a decision one better believe that race has everything to do with the decision. This nation, state and county have pursued an anti-DEI pathway. It\u2019s very disappointing that a lot of the opposition comes from white females who have been the primary beneficiaries of DEI and affirmative action and other related programs. If you looked at the makeup of the county attorney\u2019s office prior to the civil rights act I doubt you will see a white female attorney in that office. DEI ensures that everyone is given a fair chance and in addition to race, there are other protected classes such as sex, disabled, age, LGBTQ etc., and only 5% of African Americans have benefited from such programs and protections. As a result of these actions this nation, state and county currently have the most unqualified workers in the last 50 years and no one has to look any further than the trump cabinet officials for clear and obvious evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
WCTV has reached out to a spokesperson for Leon County, each commissioner, the NAACP and other local organizations. This article will be updated if and when comments roll in.<\/p>\n
Tune into Eyewitness News at 5 and 6 p.m. to watch the full story. <\/p>\n
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