May 18, 2013
UPDATED
by Julie Montanaro
January 31, 2013
The mayor of Monticello was officially fired from her job at the Jefferson County Tax Collector's office today.
Idella Scott went to federal court yesterday to try to stop it, but the judge refused.
Scott has filed a lawsuit against tax collector Lois Hunter, claiming she was fired for supporting Hunter's political opponent in the last election.
Hunter denies that and says she fired Scott for being short more than 600 dollars on a days' tax receipts.
The judge refused to issue an injunction and said the case will have to be resolved at trial later this year.
Scott is seeking reinstatement, back pay and damages.
UPDATED
by Julie Montanaro
January 30, 2013
The mayor of Monticello was in federal court today asking a judge to stop the Jefferson County Tax Collector from firing her.
Idella Scott is set to be terminated from her job as a deputy clerk tomorrow.
Scott filed a federal lawsuit claiming she was fired because the tax collector believed she was supporting a rival candidate in the most recent election ... and then concocted a phony story about missing money to cover it up.
Scott testified before District Judge Robert Hinkle this afternoon in hopes of getting an injunction to halt her termination.
"She said that if I find out you're campaigning for him then that's it, you're fired, automatic termination," Scott claimed in a previous interview.
Tax collector Lois Hunter waved to our cameras as she walked in to federal court. Her attorneys said Scott told fellow employees her new year's resolution was to do a better job of balancing her daily tax ledgers.
After hours of testimony, the judge denied Scott's request for an injunction and said she'd have to prove her case at trial.
UPDATED
by Julie Montanaro
January 30, 2013
Monticello mayor Idella Scott asked a federal judge this afternoon to issue an injunction to halt her firing by the Jefferson County Tax Collector.
Her termination is effective tomorrow.
Both Scott and tax collector Lois Hunter were in Tallahassee's federal court this afternoon as Judge Robert Hinkle listened to witnesses.
At last word, that hearing was still underway. We'll let you know when the judge makes a decision.
January 17, 2013 by Julie Montanaro
The Monticello mayor is now suing the Jefferson County tax collector in federal court.
She claims the tax collector fired her for supporting a political opponent in the last election and concocted a story of missing money to cover it up.
It's the talk of Monticello. The small town's mayor was just fired from her job as a deputy clerk in the tax collector's office.
Idella Scott was fired January 11th, one day after Lois Hunter was sworn in for a fourth term. The termination will be effective January 31st. Scott is on paid leave until then.
"She was very upset," Scott said. "On more than one occasion she made the comment that if I find out you're campaigning for the opponent, that's it, you're going to be fired, but I was not campaigning for him nor did he ask me to campaign for him."
Scott has filed a federal lawsuit - claiming Hunter has violated her rights to political free speech and association. She is also asking for an emergency injunction to hold on to her job until the case can be heard in federal court.
"Public employees have a right to political free speech and they can campaign for anybody that they want to campaign for and their boss cannot retaliate against them by terminating them," said Scott's attorney Sid Matthew.
Scott says to muddy the water, Hunter essentially accused her of stealing $612.47.
Scott says on January 9th, Hunter called her into the office and told her the day's collections "were short." Scott says she has another employee double check her reports, but she says when Hunter insisted, she wound up paying the $612.47 with her own money. She claims Hunter called her in the next day, returned her money and said the following day's collections were "over" by the exact same amount.
"My character's on trial here, you know?" Scott said, "and it's very painful and I'm going to fight. I mean, because, it's not right. I did not take any money. I've done nothing but my job since I've been there these 12 years."
We went to speak with tax collector Lois Hunter at her office today. She says she and her attorney will have plenty to say soon. She says she must bury her father this weekend and will turn her attention to the lawsuit after that.
