Tensions ran high in the Tuesday, July 7 Davis County Commission meeting as current Commission Chair John Crofts was censured following a five month independent investigation into his conduct. The legislative body removed Crofts from supervising any county employees and voted to change the Chair and Vice Chair responsibilities with Commissioner Bob Stevenson taking over as Chair and Commissioner Lorene Kamalu as Vice Chair. Crofts’ duties will be divided between Kamalu and Stevenson.

Prior to the censure, a former county employee, Jenna Nelson, came up during the public comment period and shared her experiences about working with Crofts. Nelson is a former Housing Specialist with the Davis County Community Housing Authority and a former Jail Administrator with the Davis County Sheriff’s Office.

“I didn't come here because of headlines or social media,” she said. “I came because I personally experienced conduct from Commissioner John Crofts that caused me to question his judgment, his integrity, and ultimately his fitness to continue serving the people of Davis County.”

Nelson said she left her employment at the Davis Community Housing Authority in December 2025 after filing a grievance and multiple complaints regarding her supervisor. “Despite my efforts to address those concerns, I saw no meaningful improvement. The situation took a significant toll on both my physical and mental health, and I ultimately concluded that resigning was the only healthy option for me. I loved my job and the opportunity to serve my tenants and landlords. Leaving them was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made. I would have stayed if I could, but the impact on my health made that impossible.”

Leadership is built on trust, she said. “When that trust is broken, accountability must follow. When confidence in an elected official has been so seriously damaged, the honorable course is to step aside and allow the county to begin rebuilding trust in its leadership.”

For those reasons, Nelson said she respectfully but firmly calls on Commissioner John Crofts to resign. “In my view, a censure alone is not sufficient to restore public trust or demonstrate the accountability that the people of Davis County deserve.”

“I don’t believe this is the proper forum or place to address those concerns,”  said Crofts. “I categorically disagree with some of those accusations that were made about me. It’s disappointing because I considered us to be friends.” 

Kamalu read the Public Censure Statement. In part it said: 

“Beginning in January 2025, Davis County employees began reporting inappropriate behavior by Commissioner John Crofts to the Human Resources Department. A number of valued county employees who had been working for Commissioner Crofts terminated their employment.

“County employees formally raised numerous allegations involving a variety of unlawful conduct by Commissioner Crofts. In response to these allegations and in order to assess potential liability for the county, the former HR director (through the County Attorney’s Office) commissioned an independent investigation with respect to Commissioner Crofts’ workplace behavior.

“The report identified and verified complaints in the following six categories: 

• Hostile work environment
• Political favoritism
• Religious discrimination
• LGBTQ discrimination
• Defamation
• Fitness for duty

 “After reviewing the report by the independent investigator, the Commissioners held appropriate closed meetings to allow for verbal and written responses by Crofts. Commissioner Crofts failed to produce any evidence rebutting the claims of egregious behavior or to otherwise defend himself.”

During the meeting Crofts made the following statement in part: “I’m speaking today because the taxpayers of this county deserve a commission that works for them, not one captured by intrigue, pettiness and personal agendas. Recently, extensive time and significant taxpayer dollars were spent to create a false narrative against me. That effort concluded exactly as it should have – with absolutely no findings of wrongdoing. It was a political hatchet job, plain and simple. The bar was set incredibly low and yet it still failed because the accusations were fabricated. Unfortunately, this stems from a toxic culture of gossip that has plagued this body for too long.”

“We hope this (censure) helps,” said Kamalu. “People need to feel safe at work in the county or the private sector.”

It’s been very, very hard, she said. “The key, no matter what, is to stay professional and focused on the work. It’s important work. I love the work.”

To listen to the meeting in its entirety go to https://daviscout.portal.civicclerk.com/event/739/media.