Thurston County’s commission removed Emily Clouse from her appointed advisory boards and commissions on Aug. 13, 2024, after receiving a sexual harassment complaint from her executive aide.
Thurston County has agreed to pay $300,000 to the former executive aide to Commissioner Emily Clouse.
Allyn Hershey resigned from the county on Jan. 3 and will dismiss his lawsuit as part of a settlement agreement, his attorney Edward Earl Younglove III told The Olympian on Monday.
Hershey signed the document on Dec. 27 and County Manager Leonard Hernandez signed on Jan. 2. The settlement was reached about five weeks after Hershey sued the county alleging sexual harassment, retaliation and suppression. However, the situation has been in the public eye since last summer when Clouse’s seatmates suspended her from some of her duties amid an investigation.
Just last month, the county released an investigation report into Clouse’s relationship with Hershey, Clouse’s seatmates voted to censure her and a citizen prepared a petition to recall Clouse.
Clerk of the Board Amy Davis confirmed the settlement and shared a copy of the agreement with The Olympian.
“The County deeply values the well-being and dignity of all employees,” Davis said. “We take allegations of this nature very seriously and have conducted a thorough investigation into the claims.
“Moving forward, we will implement new policies to prevent similar incidents and ensure a safe and respectful work environment. Our commitment to a harassment-free workplace reflects our dedication to supporting and protecting our employees.”
In a Dec. 6 statement, the Board of County Commissioners said the county intended to improve its policies in four ways.
When asked about the status of these reforms, Davis said the county was still working on them.
The county will be using its insurance to pay the $300,000 settlement. Davis said the county has a contract with the Washington Counties Risk Pool that includes a $250,000 deductible.
Any costs, including attorney’s fees, above that deductible are covered by the risk pool, Davis said. The county has a specific fund to cover claims against the county that are at or below the deductible, she added.
As part of the agreement, Davis said the county expects Hershey to refrain from making any further claims against the county.
The Olympian has asked Hershey to comment on the settlement.
Younglove filed Hershey’s lawsuit in Thurston County Superior Court on Nov. 27, two months after submitting a tort claim for damages that asked the county for $750,000. The final settlement amount is less than half of that initial request.
When reached for comment, Younglove said Hershey wanted to settle because this situation has been difficult for him “emotionally and mentally.”
“Regardless of how this thing kind of resolved, there didn’t seem like there was any chance of him going back to work there,” Younglove said. “I think he just needed to resolve this.”
Hershey told The Olympian last month that he took the job as Clouse’s aide so he could take care of his seriously-ill mother full-time in Olympia.
“It’s the only reason why I came back to even take a job in Thurston County and now my mental health has been jeopardized because of how Emily has treated me,” he said.
Clouse fired Hershey on July 26, about 30 minutes after he reported her to the county’s Human Resources department.
An investigation found Clouse likely did not sexually harass or retaliate against Hershey — a conclusion Hershey pushed back against when speaking to The Olympian.
However, the report also describes concerning behavior by Clouse, including engaging in a secret relationship with Hershey and accepting money and gifts from him without paying him back.
The report effectively allowed the county to absolve itself of Hershey’s legal claims while still finding some fault with Clouse’s conduct.
On Dec. 11, the board voted 4-0 to censure Clouse. That action amounts to a formal rebuke but carries no real consequence.
The board does not have the authority to fire an elected official. Only county voters can remove her, either if she tries to run for re-election or through a recall.
For her part, Clouse has expressed regret for her actions but has said she intends to continue serving as a commissioner. She reiterated the latter in a statement to The Olympian on Tuesday.
“I remain deeply committed to serving Thurston County with transparency, professionalism, and solidarity with those who placed their trust in me,” Clouse said. “This commitment has never wavered for me.”
“Moving forward, I will focus on rebuilding trust, working collaboratively with my colleagues, and continuing to connect with my constituents to ensure that we address the issues that matter most to the people of Thurston County.”
The settlement agreement did not directly involve Clouse, but she said she recognized the “importance of resolving this matter” to protect the county’s resources and its employees.
“This situation underscores the need to review and strengthen policies to ensure that our processes are designed for fairness and accountability,” Clouse said. “I remain optimistic about the steps county leadership are actively working on to safeguard these processes moving forward.”
Clouse said she wants to hire a new executive aide through a “transparent panel interview process.” Her seatmates asked her to use a hiring panel in their Dec. 6 statement.
This story was originally published January 7, 2025 at 5:05 AM.
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