Anderson County Administrator Sues Council Members

Two Anderson County council members face a lawsuit filed by its administrator this week. The lawsuit partially stems from a confrontation News Channel 7 caught exclusively on camera in December, 2007.

It started with an invitation to WSPA by County council member Bob Waldrep, “Of course, we are glad to be here today to go up to the finance department office to ask will you please provide this information for us.

Waldrep and council member Cindy Wilson wanted the county to hand over back up receipts the county credit cards. Frustrated over limited access to documents lead to a confrontation between Waldrep, Wilson and Gina Humphries, the head of the county’s finance department.

“I'm chairmen of county council, Anderson County, and I'm requesting that you provide me to look at the backup of these credit cards,” Waldrep said to a county finance employee.

A short time later, Humphries enters the office. After at least one previous request, Waldrep asks,
“I'm gonna ask you one more time. I want the opportunity to see….you are the head of this department, I'm the chairmen of county council. I represent probably 18,000 people or so. I'm making that request again. Will you allow me the opportunity to look at the backup information to these public files?

Humphries replies, “Not right now.”

Waldrep says, “When would it be, when we would ever be able to get those Humphries?”

Humphries says back, “I will check with my county administrator who is my boss, and we certainly let you know.

Waldrep says, “You will let us know. When will you let us know?

Humphries says back, “When I know.”

Eight months after the confrontation, administrator Joey Preston filed a lawsuit this week. It claims council members were "rude and yelled at county employees....and implied "that their jobs were in jeopardy."

Wilson and Waldrep say those claims are bogus. “I was surprised, because I see no real foundation for it.”

The suit also claims they intimidated employees. Wilson says, “I don't recall any sort of demeanor like that. I just remember we were asking to look at those credit card files.”

Humphries and Preston denied our request for an interview, but Preston did respond to our coverage partner the Anderson Independent Mail, “No private business would allow someone who is not the employer to give its employees orders or instructions,” Preston said. “State law makes the administrator the employer, not the individual County Council members. They are interfering with my ability to do my job and creating havoc in the workplace.”

The suit's goals is to prohibit council members from directing employees in any way and to reimburse attorney fees the county incurred from actions or requests Waldrep and Wilson have allegedly made.