Memo says Swensen knew about woes in '95

Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen knew for more than nine years of alleged intimidation and harassment in her office, according to a clerk's office memo apparently written in 1995.

Swensen, however, denies the memo was ever sent to her and says she saw it for the first time a year ago during an investigation.

The memo, dated April 5, 1995, was written by then-director of elections Merrilea Jones and elections office employee Audrey Sharpsteen, saying the two employees had a conversation with Swensen two weeks previously regarding "our concerns and problems we have been experiencing with (then-chief deputy) Nick Floros."

"The situation with Mr. Floros has made working conditions tense, uncomfortable and moral(e) has suffered," they wrote.

The two listed numerous complaints against Floros, including his "creating a hostile environment in which to work," "continual, improper and uncalled for staring and watching employees," "soliciting employees to confide their personal problems with him," "anger and loss of control" and several other concerns.

Swensen said she first saw the memo when it was shown to her by deputy district attorney Valerie Wilde last December. She wouldn't say it was a forgery but did say that it was written on letterhead "two cycles old." She said she didn't know where it came from.

Wilde said it was "unclear how the memo was disseminated within the office" and that it's possible Swensen did not see it.

Swensen, Floros and the county are facing a sexual-harassment lawsuit by former clerk's office employee Marcia Rice. In court documents answering Rice's lawsuit, Swensen acknowledges "resolving some complaints while Mr. Floros was chief deputy" but "denies that any of these disputes dealt with inappropriate touching."

The 1995 memo, however, specifically lists "inappropriate touching and invasion of 'personal space' " as complaints against Floros. It adds that Swensen "agreed a problem existed with Mr. Floros" and took "prompt action" by interviewing employees.

Several county workers including Rice, then-surveyor's office employees Shaunna Sanderseld and Dena Savas, and others who have not consented to being named, have complained of Floros' behavior and maintained Swensen and other supervisors were aware of it but did nothing.

Swensen said until Rice's complaint (Rice is the only one who has complained of harassment of a sexual nature), no one ever complained to her about Floros' alleged intimidation tactics.

"If there were any complaints about Nick, it was never anything like that," she said. "Intimidation, no — inappropriate touching, I would have done something immediately. . . . I never heard anyone say he was harassing them."

Swensen noted that Floros had worked in the county for 30 years and was bound to make some enemies and said his good side has gone unreported — giving $100 in food money to an impoverished employee and helping another employee in a court case, among other actions.

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