LANE COUNTY – During a Lane County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, County Commissioner David Loveall voted to approve the board’s statement of unity and support for those reporting discrimination and harassment, but he did not provide an apology that acknowledges the harm to those affected and acknowledge the sustained findings in an investigation report, which resulted in his censure.
Lane County on Feb. 10 released a summary of a months-long outside investigation into claims that Commissioner David Loveall retaliated against Lane County staff. The report outlined how Loveall allegedly engaged in multiple incidents of retaliation against several staff members. Loveall rejects these claims, saying that the investigation is “a brazen attempt to influence the upcoming election.”
County administrator Steve Mokrohisky started the public comment section of the meeting off with a statement to the commissioners.
“Countless employees have asked if retaliation is now acceptable in the workplace and if it is not, then who is going to stand up and say so. Well, here I am. My message today is as much for our employees and our residents, as it is for you. I want our employees and our residents to know the truth,” he said. “I met with Employee #1 on Friday and you are aware that this person has now come forward to identify themselves publicly. This person has spoken to each of you to share their experience with you and to correct several false statements that Commissioner Loveall made publicly two weeks ago.”
In the investigation, “Employee #1” alleged Loveall made an inappropriate comment about a community partner involved with the County’s grant, saying, “Every time I think of that community partner, I think of a stripper on a pole, her hands moving like this.”
That employee later filed a complaint with human resources.
Mokrohisky then corrected three other false statements made by Loveall and his privately hired attorney, Jill Gibson, who represented him during a Feb. 18 board meeting.
“Commissioner Loveall and his attorney falsely stated numerous times that, as an elected official, workplace rules do not apply to Commissioner Loveall. This is a surprising assertion given that Lane Charter Section 26 (2), enacted by Lane County voters, as well as Lane Manual Section 2.040.192 (D), enacted by the Board of Commissioners as a body, clearly states that elected officials are part of the unclassified service of the County and ‘expected to comply with personnel policies and procedures that are designed to reduce liability for the County.’ These policies restrict ‘Workplace Violence, Harassment, Discrimination, Mobbing and Retaliation.’ Commissioner Loveall has been provided these policies on multiple occasions.
Commissioner Loveall falsely stated, as he has several times, that the Board was not provided the final contract for the resource recovery facility before it was signed. In fact, Commissioners were sent the final contract nine days prior to its execution. On September 25, 2024, County Counsel, at my direction, sent all five Commissioners the final contract requesting questions be submitted within the following week. No questions or comments were received and the contract was executed on October 4, 2024, pursuant to the direction given by the Board to the Administrator in Board Order 23-12-05-07. Commissioner Loveall was given nine days to review the final contract and he said nothing.
Commissioner Loveall falsely stated that he met with Employee #1 and Laura Pancoast on June 16, 2025 to discuss state cuts. For context, Laura Pancoast is an executive assistant in Health and Human Services and has recently stepped up to fill a vacant supervisor role temporarily. She is conscientious, dedicated and hard working, and she was rather shaken when Commissioner Loveall called her out by name publicly on February 18th because she has never met Commissioner Loveall nor has she been in a meeting with Commissioner Loveall. The meeting Commissioner Loveall referenced never happened. The meeting that actually happened took place on July 17, not June 16, and it included Employee #1, two other employees and Commissioner Loveall to prepare for a Board of Health meeting that took place on August 5. Laura Pancoast was not in that meeting. I want to apologize to Ms. Pancoast and express my displeasure that she was publicly and inappropriately named by Commissioner Loveall,” Mokrohisky said.
He said there are additional attacks and false statements Loveall continues to make, but he will leave it to others to address them.
“There are no winners here and I hate that I have been placed in this position,” he said. “The question today is this: should an elected official be allowed to use his or her power to violate workplace laws by threatening, intimidating and retaliating against employees. I say no and my hope is that, as an organization and as a community, we recommit to ethical and appropriate behavior for everyone serving the public, especially our elected officials.”
Tensions were already high in Harris Hall, filled with people voicing either support for or opposition to Loveall during public comments. Chrystal Smead was ready to start her public comment with a prayer when disruptions from the audience prompted security to remove Pete Goldlust, a resident of Eugene, after he interrupted multiple times and refused to leave when asked. Smead broke down in tears as board chair Ryan Ceniga called for a brief recess for members to calm down.
After 15 or more public comments were made, the board made a motion to adopt a statement of unity, which was read by Vice Chair Heather Buch. The statement was unanimously adopted, with Ceniga verifying Loveall’s “aye.”
The statement denounced any form of retaliation against those who report discrimination and harassment, supported those who do so, and called upon all county elected officials and staff to adhere to county policy.
When asked by Buch if he had a statement prepared, Loveall asked for his privately hired attorney, Jill Gibson, to speak to the board. Deliberations between the board ultimately led to a no.
Buch asked Loveall one last time if he had a statement of apology prepared to read, to which he responded, “I won’t participate in an illegal meeting, and I won’t respond to an illegal motion directed at me by this board at this time,” he said.
Given the lack of an apology and the county’s special counsel’s advice, a motion to adopt an order of censure was voted on.
“It is in the best interest of Lane County to take appropriate corrective action to help reduce the county’s liability for any potential future retaliation actions taken by Commissioner Loveall against county employees,” Buch said. “One of those appropriate corrective actions is that special counsel has suggested for the board to adopt a censuring of Commissioner Loveall for retaliating against employees who reported discrimination and harassment, as set forth in the independent investigator’s report,” she said.
Ceniga had previously stated his concerns about the investigation process and did not vote in favor of the action. However, Buch, along with Commissioners Pat Farr and Laurie Treiger, voted in favor. Loveall abstained.
An executive session was scheduled later Tuesday afternoon to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection and for the board to consult with counsel concerning the legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current or future litigation.
Shortly after the meeting, Loveall released a statement reading, “As I stated at the meeting today, I will not participate in a process that is illegal or an illegal meeting. Every person deserves a fair and transparent process and an opportunity to respond to allegations against them. I requested the investigative report and for it to be discussed in a public meeting. The county denied my requests. This serious matter has been handled in a reckless and politically motivated manner instead of with the fairness and transparency it deserves.”
