Warren Mayor Jim Fouts is defending his decision to fire an appointee who made critical statements about him.
In an interview with 7 Action News Investigator Simon Shaykhet, Fouts said, "I would never terminate someone for criticizing me or disagreeing with my opinion."
The Mayor added, "Bill Barnwell is someone I appointed initially and have helped his wife win an election for treasurer."
Barnwell tells another story.
In an interview with 7 Action News, he alleges a culture of fear, intimidation and bullying in city government. He disputes the Mayor's statement that his term had already ended.
Instead, Barnwell claims the Mayor made his decision purely out of political retribution. Specifically, after Barnwell says he defended African Americans, women and disabled children whom Fouts allegedly insulted on audio recordings.
Mayor Fouts also tells 7 Action News he's replacing the Vice Chairman of Warren Senior Housing with an African American woman who is not a political person.
