A Marion County public works manager accused of sexual discrimination against a female employee no longer works for the county.

"Don Newell is not employed by Marion County," county spokeswoman Jolene Kelley confirmed in an email Monday morning.

Kelley declined to specify whether he resigned or was fired. His last day was Oct. 11.

Newell declined to comment Monday.

The departure comes after Jamie Namitz, a longtime county employee, publicly accused Newell, the public works operations division manager, of sexual discrimination during a recent job interview.

The interview took place Aug. 15, and there were four other managers in the room, according to Namitz.

A human resources investigation showed Newell violated Marion County administrative policy and personnel rules for standard of conduct multiple times. However, Newell continued to work for the county after human resources staff recommended he be fired.

In an Oct. 3 meeting of the Marion County Board of Commissioners, Namitz testified that Newell said her "biggest strength" was her "sexuality" during her job interview with him.

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She went before commissioners after Newell remained on the job despite her complaint and the human resources staff recommendation.

In a Facebook message Monday, Namitz told the Statesman Journal, "I made a stand. If I wouldn't have, he would still be employed. Right is right, wrong is wrong. Stand up for what is right!"

The county said last week it is planning to hire a consultant to conduct a government-wide "cultural audit." That could cover more than 1,650 county workers, including those who are temporary or part-time laborers.

Kelley said at the time that the audit is supposed to commence as soon as possible.

Early findings disclosed last week from survey by the Marion County Employees Association, an SEIU Local 503-affiliated union, showed multiple county employees reported experiencing unwanted sexual attention at work.

On Monday, MCEA President Trish Straw said, "We hope that the decision to conduct a cultural audit continues to create and maintain a safe and welcoming workplace."

Email jbach@statesmanjournal.com, call (503) 399-6714 or follow on Twitter @jonathanmbach.

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