A Minneapolis
city panel recommended Tuesday that officials fire Bonnie
Bleskachek, the nation's first openly lesbian big-city fire
chief, in the wake of firefighter lawsuits accusing
her of harassment and discrimination. Bleskachek had
earlier agreed to step down, but the city's executive
council unanimously rejected a negotiated deal after a
closed-door meeting.
"She was pretty stunned because it was a
complete surprise," said Bleskachek's attorney, Jerry
Burg. Mayor R.T. Rybak had announced the agreement in
a letter to the city's executive council in which he wrote
that he no longer had confidence in Bleskachek as chief.
Neither Rybak nor city council members would
immediately explain why the deal was blocked.
Bleskachek, 43, was hailed as a trailblazer when
she was promoted to the top job two years ago, but her
tenure has been troubled. Three female firefighters
have sued, alleging various acts of discrimination and
sexual harassment. A city investigation ultimately found
evidence that the department gave preferential
treatment to lesbians or those who socialized with
them.
Two of the
lawsuits were settled, but earlier this month a male
firefighter brought another lawsuit alleging he was denied
advancement because he is male and not gay.
Bleskachek was
ill with the flu Tuesday and unavailable for comment. She
has denied wrongdoing in the past.
Burg said the
chief's employment agreement called for her to be
reassigned as battalion chief. She would then request a
demotion to captain, he said. Burg accused Rybak of
spinning the negotiated agreement ''as if he's
addressing an employee problem.'' Burg emphasized that any
wrongdoing on Bleskachek's part remains unproved, but
he acknowledged that she was ready to step down.
''That is something she has wanted for a lot longer
than she has been talking about in public,'' Burg
said. ''It's been clear for a long time that the job of
chief takes energy from her life that she no longer
wanted to give it, all things considered.''
Rybak aide Jeremy
Hanson said it was not a ''certainty'' that Bleskachek
would remain with the department. The city has spent more
than $410,000 on the investigation, legal settlements,
and compensation for Bleskachek during her paid leave,
which began March 22. (AP)
