Kalamazoo Times

Changes in leadership at the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners have not gone as smoothly as former Board Chair Julie Rogers had hoped, as her replacement administration sent her colleagues a letter she is calling a "smear campaign."

Rogers stepped down as chair June 30. Vice Chair Tracy Hall was appointed to her position, and District 4 Commissioner Michael Seals stepped into the position of vice chair. Days later, Hall and Seals sent a letter to their fellow commissioners detailing Rogers' unprofessional conduct and difficult working conditions.

The letter claims Rogers tried to delegate tasks outside her scope of authority, manipulated information and tried to go around the sheriff to declare a state of emergency at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. No formal complaints have been filed against Rogers, but the letter states there has been much time and energy dedicated to dealing with the ramifications of her conduct. 

The letter also states that it was planned for Rogers to be asked to step down at a March 13 meeting, but that meeting never happened; March 13 was the day government offices were first closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

In a statement sent to WOODTV, Rogers said that Hall, Seals and District 1 Commissioner Stephanie Moore are engaging in a smear campaign against her. 

Rogers is running in the Democratic primary against Moore for the 60th District State House of Representatives seat. She has stepped down as board chair to focus efforts on her campaign leading up to next month's primary. She said she is not surprised by the timing of the letter.

“As I said, the first duty of elected officials is to the truth. Hall, Seals and Moore have failed this crucial test. Instead, they spread falsehoods in the heat of a campaign for personal and political goals," Rogers said in a statement to WOODTV. 

Though Rogers has stepped down as board chair, she still holds her seat as District 5 Commissioner.