Montana News
Cascade County settles discrimination dispute with former clerk and recorder
With Montana News, I'm Eleanor Smith. Cascade County Commissioners agreed to pay thousands of dollars to settle a discrimination complaint brought against them by a former clerk and recorder. MTPR's Austin Amistoy has the details. - Rina Fontana Moore filed the complaint with the Montana Human Rights Bureau earlier this year. She alleged the all-Republican Cascade County Commissioners discriminated against her for her political beliefs during the hiring process for the county's nonpartisan election administrator. Moore held the job for 16 years as a Democrat when it was in elected position. Attorney for the county, Jordan Crosby, told commissioners at a meeting last week, the $52,000 settlement would avoid a lengthy legal process that could cost county taxpayers far more. - I think it is in the best interest of the county. I think it is a good business judgment to make, to resolve this, to end this matter. - Montana Free Press first reported on the settlement. Commissioners approved it on a split vote with Jim Larson and Joe Briggs in favor and Ray Grockowski against. Moore also named the state of Montana and Secretary of State Christy Jacobson as defendants and neither had settled as of Tuesday. Jacobson emailed Cascade County Commissioners earlier this year, urging them not to hire Moore and did not respond to MTPR's request for comment. Moore declined to comment, citing the ongoing nature of the complaint. Reporting in Missoula, I'm Austin Amastoy.