Butler County Commissioner Jim Eckstein faces a second sexual discrimination complaint in less than a year. Eckstein said at the commissioners meeting today that a county employee filed an internal complaint against him. He said the allegation is false. Eckstein, who would not identify the employee, said the person lectured him about discussing the county prison’s practice of monitoring letters to inmates during a prison board meeting. County solicitor Julie Graham said the county cannot comment on the case because it’s a personnel issue. The commissioners on Wednesday will consider hiring special legal counsel to investigate the claim. In the previous sexual discrimination case involving Eckstein, Children and Youth Services director Joyce Ainsworth in March filed a complaint against the county with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ainsworth, who was not seeking a financial settlement, alleged Eckstein mistreated her during a February commissioners meeting. The commissioners in December settled the case, agreeing to attend training covering such topics as bullying in the workplace and issuing a statement of support for Ainsworth.
