Washington County Commission 'signals dissatisfaction' with BOE member Keith Ervin

The Washington County Commission made a vote of no confidence for Washington County School Board member Keith Ervin on Monday. County Commissioner Jodi Jones brought the motion to the full commission despite no item being on the agenda for the meeting. "I felt strongly that I needed to state my deep disappointment and embarrassment in those actions," Jones said. At a Washington County School Board meeting on April 2, Ervin made the comment "God, you're hot" to a student board member causing backlash from the community and later led to the decision to censure Ervin by the Board of Education. Jones said in conversation with other school officials at a meeting outside of the state, she was made aware of the effects Ervin's actions have had on other counties leading to distrust within school boards. "I am also not judging Mr. Ervin as a person or judging his character or making the claim that he doesn't make contributions in his role on the school board," she said. "I'm more saying that I don't believe he has the capacity to perform at the level of professionalism and responsibility that is required of an elected official." She acknowledged the little to no power the county has on for this matter. She added she feels the commission should speak up and let the public know they do take Ervin's behavior seriously as well as the collaboration the commission has with the school board. "I think it's important for us to show our community that our board is one that respects decency and stands up for the most vulnerable people in the room," she said. "I want to be proud of our elected officials and the work of local government in Washington County, and I want us to inspire confidence." The commission made a vote of no confidence for Ervin following a vote to suspend the rules. County Commissioner Marty Johnson was the only commissioner to vote no in both actions. "A vote of no confidence for county government is a gesture that is not binding on any political action but does fully communicate a loss of confidence in leadership," Washington County Attorney Allyson Wilkinson said. "It does not force an immediate removal … but it does signal that dissatisfaction." Jones said she did not discuss this action with the full commission before bringing it to the meeting on Monday and she felt it was the right thing to do to make the motion. She said with the community remaining upset about Ervin's comments and her ongoing interactions with people regionally and across the state she came to the realization of how much it impacted the perception of local government. "If we don't weigh in, who does other than just at the voting booth," she said. "I felt like as an elected official there's some responsibility there."