Missouri agriculture director resigns after sexual harassment allegations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The state agriculture director resigned at the governor's request Monday, several days after allegations of sexual harassment and gender discrimination were made public.

Department of Agriculture director Fred Ferrell was accused Friday in a court filing by former employee Heather Elder of kissing her, saying he would like to see her in a wet T-shirt contest and refusing to promote her because of her gender.

Gov. Matt Blunt had reinstated Ferrell in May after a two-week paid suspension as the allegations were investigated. But Blunt said Monday that, "It has now become apparent that he can no longer lead the department effectively, and I have today asked for and accepted his resignation."

Since he was reinstated May 19, Ferrell has been on employment probation, a spokeswoman for Blunt said. As part of that, the director was required to apologize, pay $10,000 and take sensitivity training courses.

Ferrell, who is from Charleston, Mo., did not return several calls made to the department seeking comment Monday. But in a written statement issued through a department spokeswoman Friday, he said he has already apologized.

Elder's lawsuit Friday was a counterclaim to one filed earlier in the week by attorneys for the state asking the court to enforce a mediated agreement they said was reached with Elder.

In that agreement, Elder would have promised to drop all claims and agree to resign from the department. In exchange, she was to received $70,000, plus $12,500 for court costs.

Elder's countersuit was the first public account of the allegations against Ferrell. It accuses him of hugging her without her consent and referring to her as his "beautiful girl" and his "princess."

The suit also accuses the department of firing her after she filed complaints with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In court documents, the department accuses Elder of misusing a state computer.

Elder, 36, was hired to be an assistant to the state veterinarian. She later became the interim department spokeswoman.

According to court documents, Elder was put on administrative leave May 5 after complaining to supervisors and the governor's office. She returned to work May 16.

Ferrell also was placed on administrative leave, from May 5 to May 19, while Blunt directed the Missouri State Highway Patrol and other state law enforcement agencies to investigate the claims.

Carla Holste, an attorney representing Elder, said Ferrell's resignation has no effect on Elder's case.

"It is unfortunate that the governor did not act sooner since he had the Highway Patrol report in May," Holste said Monday.

That report, released to The Associated Press last week, shows that investigators from several state law enforcement agencies, including the Highway Patrol and Capitol Police, spoke with 15 current and former Agriculture Department employees.

It also details Elder's allegations that Ferrell told her that if there were going to be a jeans day there must be a "tight jeans day" and a wet T-shirt contest. Investigators noted that Ferrell admitted to making the comment about the wet T-shirt contest but denied that they were directed at Elder.

In his statement to investigators, Ferrell said that he has hugged female employees but denied kissing them.

The Highway Patrol's report also shows that the director of the division of animal health and an assistant to Ferrell told investigators the director implied that women should not be in supervisory roles.

Ferrell's actions, according to the report, made at least one other employee uncomfortable. And several of the people questioned by investigators said Elder was not the first woman to report problems with Ferrell.

Seven female Democratic lawmakers sent Blunt a letter dated Sunday questioning why Ferrell was permitted to stay on the job as long as he did.

The letter accused Blunt of "empowering this sort of predatory sexual behavior" and called on him to publicly explain why Ferrell was not fired in May.

Added state Democratic Party spokesman Jack Cardetti: "It's offensive that only after Gov. Blunt's attempts to cover up sexual harassment in his administration failed, did our governor finally fire Fred Ferrell."

Ferrell, 66, is a farmer from Charleston whose appointment was announced by Blunt in January 2005 during a ceremony at the state headquarters for the Missouri Farm Bureau.

Farm Bureau President Charlie Kruse, of Dexter, said in a written statement Monday that Ferrell has done a "superb" job.

"I am saddened to hear of his apparent bad judgment in his workplace conduct," Kruse said.

Matt Boatright, the department's deputy director since 2005, will serve as interim director. He is a Republican from Sedalia who served in the House from 1995-2003. He did not immediately return a call seeking comment Monday.

When interviewed by a Missouri Capitol Police sergeant as part of the investigation into Ferrell last year, Boatright said Ferrell is a "Southern gentleman." Boatright acknowledged that he had advised Ferrell that kissing and hugging people could be received negatively but denied that he had ever seen the former director behave inappropriately.

-----

On the Net:

Agriculture: http://www.mda.mo.gov