The City of Menifee voted 5-0 in open session to reject a claim by Aliso Viejo Mayor Carmen Cave, in which the former community development director alleged retaliation, gender and age discrimination, according to today’s O.C. Register (note that this story is not yet loaded on their website although you can click here to see it on their e-Register).
Cave served as community development director from Aug. 3, 2009 until July 2, 2013, when she was terminated after a meeting with Interim City Manager Rob Johnson. Cave subsequently filed a complaint with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, claiming discrimination and requesting from its office a right to sue. The DFEH acknowledged Cave’s right to sue in a letter to Cave dated Aug. 20, according to Menifee 24/7.
Cave, who currently is serving as mayor of the city of Aliseo Viejo, has informed the city she intends to bring claims against the city in Riverside County Superior Court for damages in excess of $10,000. She claims she was paid wages that were 10-20 percent less than her male counterparts and received benefits that were significantly less than them.
The document lists Cave’s salary at the time of her termination as $120,000 per year with benefits. She states in the letter that her damages are approximately $10,000 per month and that she has been under medical care related to her termination due to emotional distress.
Cave’s attorney claims that Menifee’s interim city manager, Rob Johnson, was forced to dismiss Cave or lose his own job after she refused to resign. The letter also alleged the city was unwilling to comply with state affordable-housing and planning laws and retaliated against Cave after she made complaints about the matter, according to the O.C. Register.
Now that the City of Menifee has rejected her claim, you can bet that Cave will be pursuing this in court. The question is though what is her plan if the court finds against her? And will anyone want to hire her as all of the dirt comes out?
Meanwhile a retired Orange County Deputy Sheriff named David Harrington has announced his intention to challenge Cave and her liberal Council colleague, Phil Tsunoda.
Harrington, 50, is a Republican and an eight-year Aliso Viejo resident who spent about six years working in the city with the Sheriff’s Department, which provides police services in Aliso Viejo. Now that he’s retired, he has time to devote to politics and wants to bring a “fresh perspective,” he said, according to the O.C. Register.
If the voters in Aliso Viejo dump Cave and Tsunoda you can bet that live in the planned south Orange County will get a lot better. There reckless spending and disregard for the well-being of their constituents has indeed become quite stale.
The voters in Aliso Viejo spoke loud and clear last election. No matter what the political affiliation, it was time to oust the entitled incumbents. Bill Phillips may have gotten a pass last time around because his prickly, grumbling personality kept him off the radar, but Carmen Cave is South Orange County’s standard bearer for cronyism and entitled politicians. She and political sleaze Phil Tsunoda have definitely worn out their welcome in Aliso Viejo. It’s time for fresh ideas, a new perspective, and integrity.
Harrington should prepare himself for Cave and Tsunoda’s brand of incumbent politics. Sounds like he has the backbone to put up with the attacks.
Carmen Cave should resign from AV City Council based on her emotional stress, personal lawsuit, and her lack of sound judgement. We all understand being fired for cause could and will ultimately affect her judgement in serious negotiations as Mayor or Councilman for Aliso Viejo. Some could also question her personal ethics of her new relationship with a Menifee.employee…….
The bitterness and anger that Cave brings to each council meeting is only apparent to the few who attend. Her attempts and redeeming her public image are sad, and no matter how many boy scout troops she brings in to say the pledge of allegiance, she will always be exactly who she is. Nothing has changed.