Board Censures Supervisor Michelle Bushnell, Removes Her as Chair
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted to censure Supervisor Michelle Bushnell and to strip her of the chair position after an outside investigation found credible evidence of hostile conduct toward two county employees. The actions aim to protect staff and restore confidence in county workplace processes, while the board seeks a civil grand jury review and possible code of conduct changes.
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The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 6 voted 4 to 0 to censure Supervisor Michelle Bushnell and followed with a 3 to 1 vote to remove her as board chair for the remainder of her term. The decisions came after an independent investigation by Kramer Workplace Investigations concluded in an executive summary dated Aug. 27 that allegations against Bushnell were sustained.
The investigation interviewed six witnesses and found credible evidence that Bushnell "raised her voice, spoke in a hostile manner and cursed" at two county employees in May. The executive summary states investigators found Bushnell accused one employee of lying multiple times, yelled and did not allow that employee to speak. The report also found evidence that she accused a second employee of disloyalty, yelled, cursed and slammed a door.
County officials said the investigative work to date has cost just under $8,500, paid from the liability fund, with additional invoices expected. At the public meeting Bushnell expressed regret for the incident, cited trauma related "fight or flight" response, and announced she has retained counsel to challenge due process aspects of the proceedings.
Supervisors framed their motions as measures to protect employees and to preserve the integrity of county workplace processes. The board also voted to ask the Humboldt County civil grand jury to review Bushnell's conduct and to provide recommendations about the board's Code of Conduct. Several supervisors urged broader process changes tied to how complaints and conduct issues are handled in county government.
The board specified the action was tied to a specific incident and not a judgment on Bushnell's overall record of public service. No additional removals of committee assignments were included in the motion, a decision intended to limit collateral effects on county governance and continuity of oversight.
The episode raises questions about workplace culture within local government and the mechanisms available to employees who report misconduct. The county faces both near term costs for the investigation and the longer term task of restoring staff confidence in supervisory behavior and complaint procedures. The civil grand jury review could result in concrete recommendations for changes to the board's code and to county policies that govern conduct and complaint resolution.
For the community, the matter touches on transparency and accountability in local government. Residents who rely on county services may see impacts if board dynamics affect committee work or public engagement. The board's next steps, including the grand jury review and any policy changes that follow, will shape how Humboldt County handles similar incidents in the future and how it balances due process for elected officials with protections for county employees.
