Johnson County Board of Supervisors fires executive director in open session

JOHNSON COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – The Johnson County Board of Supervisors only had one item on their agenda: an evaluation of the job performance of county executive Guillermo Morales.

“You were insubordinate, argumentative and disrespectful to Lisa and Royceann,” Board Chairman Rod Sullivan said.

Sullivan criticized Morales’ behavior toward board members Lisa Green-Douglass and Royceann Porter, as well as employees at several county departments.

Sullivan was blunt in his comments, saying Morales was a “constant source of friction” and should be fired.

“I do not believe this situation can continue and I believe your termination is the only way to resolve these issues once and for all,” Sullivan said.

But not every manager agreed.

“This is an unprecedented situation in terms of performance evaluation,” said Board Executive V Fixmer-Oraiz.

The board then voted 3-2 to remove Morales from office.

Speaking to TV9 after the meeting, the President said he was not surprised by the vote but believed the district was not following its own policies.

“To discipline someone, all it takes is cause or reason,” Morales said. “Progressive discipline is the approach that should be used, and in this case, the supervisors failed to do either of those things.”

However, he accepts some of the criticism directed at him.

“I think some of that may be true,” Morales said. “When I was interviewed for the position, I told them my approach can be harsh at times. I fully accept that.”

But he said the issue goes beyond job performance. He believes it’s personal.

“If this is coming from a person of color, it’s possible that people would have a hard time, right?” Morales said.

Escucha Mi Voz Iowa issued a statement saying the firing appeared to be “politically motivated retaliation against the Board of Supervisors’ first Latina director” because she refused to be manipulated.

Morales said he plans to file a wrongful termination lawsuit.

But despite all this, he would return if the offer came.

“I love the work. I love the job. I love the people,” Morales said. “I think it can get messy because, you know, there’s politics, and I think this is an example of that.”

“The discussions and statements made by the Board of Directors during the meeting say it all,” the regional prosecutor told TV9.