A neighborhood Oregon official allegedly retaliated in opposition to staff who griped after he likened a neighborhood member to a “stripper,” an investigation discovered.
The probe, performed by Mountain Lakes Employment Investigations, discovered Lane County Commissioner David Loveall violated county coverage by retaliating in opposition to two unnamed workers and County Administrator Steve Mokrohisky.
One worker mentioned Loveall, whereas discussing a “sure neighborhood associate” over espresso in Might 2025, remarked, “I consider a stripper on a stripper’s pole, her fingers shifting like this.”
The worker later filed a grievance alleging Lovell used doubtlessly discriminatory language.
One other worker reported Loveall repeatedly used “Christian non secular language,” together with signing a birthday card with “Kingdom work.”
The worker informed investigators they most popular to not focus on faith within the office.
When the complaints surfaced, Loveall allegedly informed Mokrohisky to make them cease.
“Inform the staff to eff off, commissioners can do what they need and there’s nothing anybody can do about it,” Loveall mentioned throughout a June 2025 assembly, in response to the report.
He additionally allegedly warned, “when you don’t repair this, then you definately and I’ve an issue and I’m going to do all the pieces I can to do away with these individuals.”
Lane County officers publicly launched a abstract of the report Tuesday, forward of a closed-door assembly slated for Feb. 18 to debate the matter, Lookout Eugene-Springfield reported.
The investigation was primarily based on interviews with 15 county workers or elected officers and a whole bunch of pages of data.
Investigators concluded Loveall took “hostile motion” in opposition to the staff and Mokrohisky.
This included refusing to share info, canceling conferences, giving Mokrohisky a 1-out-of-5 efficiency score that was “unsupported by documentation,” threatening his job and criticizing him publicly and on podcasts.
Mokrohisky informed The Publish that whereas “spirited debate and wholesome battle” are a part of public service, “there should even be a baseline normal of professionalism and respect,” particularly for public-sector leaders.
He added that he hopes the investigation “brings these points to an in depth,” and mentioned he stays dedicated to serving the neighborhood and main county employees.
In a Nov. 20 e-mail obtained by Lookout via a public data request, Loveall acknowledged he “might’ve mentioned a couple of much less ‘f-words,’” however mentioned some particulars have been exaggerated.
Mokrohisky beforehand mentioned Loveall’s conduct mirrored a broader sample of “defiant” and “demeaning” habits that started shortly after he took workplace in 2023.
In a press release to The Publish, Loveall disputed the findings, calling it “one-sided” and politically motivated, and questioned each its public launch and the way the investigation was performed.
“The county’s report accommodates the misrepresentation of personal conversations that passed off in closed door conferences and feedback attributed to me that weren’t my phrases. It is usually making an attempt to criminalize salty and spiritual speech,” he mentioned.
“The report has did not allege a single precise instance of retaliation that resulted in actual damages to anybody’s employment however as an alternative facilities on a dislike of a public official’s speech,” he added.
Loveall additionally defended his non secular remarks, saying being elected “didn’t negate my First Modification rights” and that he wouldn’t apologize for utilizing faith-based language.
He’s up for reelection within the Might major.
The controversy follows a $250,000 settlement reached in October 2024 with former Metropolis Lawyer Erin Pettigrew, who alleged Loveall mentioned he “anxious about her changing into a spinster.”
Pettigrew resigned in April 2024, citing “hostile, demeaning, belittling and gender biased remarks.”
Loveall informed The Oregonian/OregonLive the investigation was a “partisan assault” with a pre-decided conclusion and mentioned the allegations have been introduced ahead in a “brazen try” to affect the upcoming election.
“I’m exploring each avenue to pursue in opposition to the county for his or her mishandling of this matter and look ahead to a fast decision of those baseless accusations introduced by activist employees members who’re making an attempt to insert themselves into the political course of,” he mentioned in a textual content message to the outlet.
