University City’s former public works director claims in a lawsuit that she was discriminated against based on her racial background and gender.
Evelyn Shields Benford was the city’s public works director when she was dismissed in October 2011. She filed suit in August 2013 in ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Circuit Court. The case is set for its first hearing before ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Circuit Judge Barbara W. Wallace on Monday.
Benford is African-American. Her suit claims city manager Lehman Walker, who is black and originally from Canada, created “an environment that harbored racial and age discrimination that was aimed at African-Americans†working for the city.
Benford had worked for the city for more than 13 years when she was fired. Walker is also a longtime city employee. He began working for University City in the late 1990s as a planning/development director. He left in 2009 to take a post in Evanston, Ill., and then returned as city manager in July 2010, less than four months after Mayor Shelly Welsch was elected.
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Welsch and the city are also named in the suit.
In a separate court filing, attorneys for the defendants deny the claims of discrimination. Contacted by telephone, Walker said he does not comment on personnel issues. Welsch could not be reached for comment.
Benford filed a complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights in January 2012 that alleged discrimination based on age, race and gender, and also claimed retaliation. On Aug 2, 2013, the commission concluded its investigation and granted Benford the right to file suit, which she did on Aug. 30.
In the racial discrimination portion of the suit, Benford contends that Walker described Councilman Byron Price as “ghetto†and used a racial slur in reference to him. The suit also said Walker once referred to some black residents as “ignorant colored folk†and “ghetto black folks.â€
Benford also claims that Walker — while frequently mentioning that he was from Canada — would say that he did not like “ghetto black folks†from the United States because he did not grow up with them.
In a portion which alleges sexual discrimination, Benford claims that Walker described women as “idiots†and “stupid,†saying “all women liked to do is get their hair and nails done.†Benford alleges that Walker refused to consider her for promotion and also took away certain duties and gave them to men.
Walker recently has been feuding with , some of whom posed for City Council candidates’ campaign photos. All four union-backed candidates lost in April’s municipal elections.
Walker contends that state law prohibits first responders from engaging in campaigns while on duty or in uniform. The sides disagreed on the definition of “uniform†and the union said the workers were off duty. Five firefighters were suspended.
EDITOR'S NOTE:ÌýÌýstates that no political subdivision shall prohibit first responders from “engaging in any political activity while off duty and not in uniform.†University City leaders have interpreted the law to ban first responders from engaging in such activity while on duty or in uniform. An earlier version of this story stated as fact that interpretation, which is disputed by others.