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Medford City Council candidate Glenda Wilson was pressured out of her city recorder job in 2015 over what she said was a misunderstanding about a threatening statement she made when her work environment became increasingly hostile. “I can own that I should have done things differently,” Wilson said. “It was a statement of frustration, not of intent.” Wilson, who is running against incumbent Kevin Stine and Don Libby in Ward 3, said her frustrations about working conditions began in 2014, but she said allegations that she had talked about killing a fellow employee were mischaracterized. “There were things that were reported to me that I have no recollection of doing,” she said. Wilson didn’t want to name the employee. “There was an accusation that was not valid and it was never investigated. The city had no interest in investigating it.” Wilson’s title at the time was assistant to the city manager and city recorder, and she received an annual salary of $103,981 plus benefits. She currently works at Addictions Recovery Center in Medford. According to a confidential separation agreement obtained by the Mail Tribune through a public records request, Wilson was “relieved of her responsibilities” and placed on paid administrative leave on June 12, 2015, by Acting City Manager Bill Hoke. Wilson and Hoke signed the agreement on July 10, 2015, and Wilson’s last day was July 17, 2015. She received a $50,700 severance along with the city paying seven months of health insurance for Wilson and her husband. The city agreed not to oppose any unemployment benefits and to provide a positive letter of reference. “If what they accused me of was true and a fact, they never would have given me the separation agreement,” she said. “It really came to a place where the management of the organization and I headed in different directions.” She said the workplace environment at the time was particularly stressful, noting that former City Manager Eric Swanson was fired a week before she was placed on leave in 2015, and that Deputy City Manager Bill Hoke was placed on paid administrative leave in October 2016. Wilson said she thinks the city manager’s office is currently being run in a professional manner. Wilson said she could have fought the steps taken against her but decided that it was in her best interests and the city’s to leave the position she’d held for 16 years. “It was horrible, not a healthy work environment,” she said. “It got really, really unhealthy. I started speaking about things I thought were inappropriate.” She said she’d heard people at City Hall making derogatory statements about her colleagues, City Council members and community members. “Some of those behaviors were done by top leadership,” Wilson said. “In fact, they set the tone for some of that.” Councilor Kevin Stine, Wilson’s opponent, said he can’t go into detail about the events leading up to the separation agreement or some of the conversations he had at City Hall that gave him a better understanding about what Wilson said. Stine was on the council at the time of Wilson’s departure. “Do I think that Ms. Wilson is telling the whole truth about this matter — I don’t think so,” he said. “There was a culture at the city manager’s office. Whether we’re talking about Glenda Wilson or Bill Hoke or Eric Swanson — we’re in a much better situation. I don’t think we should go backwards. We should go forward.” Stine said it’s important that people know about the candidates who are running for office, noting that everyone has a history that needs to be discussed. “If you’re looking to be in public service, you have to address them,” he said. Libby, Wilson’s other opponent, said he’s heard rumors about Wilson but doesn’t know the facts surrounding her departure. “Without having any information about the facts, I can’t comment on that,” said Libby, who is chief financial officer of Libby Security Services in Medford. Despite Wilson’s rupture with the city, she had received glowing recommendations prior to 2015, including from Swanson, who sent her a Christmas card in 2014 stating, “Thank you for the outstanding support to the CMO (city manager’s office), mayor and Medford CC (City Council). Your leadership and service is (sic) much appreciated. Looking forward to working with you in 2015.” Her performance review on June 30, 2014, was also glowing. Swanson wrote, “The workload in the front office is better balanced since Glenda began supervising the two assistants to the city manager positions in addition to the deputy city recorder. I appreciate Glenda’s leadership in all areas of her position and thank her for doing a good job.” Swanson said Wilson would take the lead on coordinating the remodel of the first floor of City Hall. Wilson said she had begun looking for new employment in March 2015 when her workplace situation became more untenable. “I was beginning to bring forward concerns around unprofessional behavior, disrespectful behavior that was not representative of the city manager’s office,” she said. “Could I have been quiet and sat in a corner, I don’t think so. I feel that my integrity and professionalism would have made it impossible for me to have stayed there.” Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow him @reporterdm.