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DA Says HR Director Bypassed Personnel Rules in Potential Firing of 19-Year Employee
Updated: 1 day ago
Lincoln County District Attorney Jenna Wallace is questioning Human Resources Director David Collier’s handling of Debbie Howard’s paid leave and possible firing.
Howard works in the District Attorney’s Office as a senior legal secretary. She is a 19-year county employee, union president and union steward.
DA Questions Leave Approval
In a June 8 email (below) to Commissioners Walter Chuck and Casey Miller, Wallace said she had been left out of decisions about Howard for seven months. She said she was not involved when Howard was placed on leave and did not approve it.
Howard was placed on paid administrative leave on Oct. 13, 2025. The leave was tied to an investigation into claims involving another county official. Wallace’s email says Howard had been on leave for 238 days.
Personnel Rules and the 30-Day Limit
Wallace pointed to Lincoln County Personnel Rule Article 11(H)(5). The version of the rule in effect when Howard was placed on leave said an employee could be placed on administrative leave if the appointing authority approved it, along with the Human Resources Director or a designee. The rule also said administrative leave could not last more than 30 calendar days unless approved by the Human Resources Director and the Board of Commissioners.
Wallace wrote that she is Howard’s appointing authority because she is the elected District Attorney and department head. She said she never approved Howard’s leave. She also said she has not received notice, an explanation, or documents showing approval to extend the leave beyond 30 days.
Rule Change After Leave Began
On Nov. 5, 2025, after Howard had already been placed on leave, the Board of Commissioners approved new Personnel Rules. Those rules shifted approval for administrative leave beyond 30 days from the Board to the County Administrator. At the same meeting, the Board appointed Commissioner Claire Hall as Acting County Administrator.
According to an email obtained by Lincoln County News Source, Hall later delegated supervisory authority over department heads to Collier. The email does not state that Hall delegated the Acting County Administrator role to Collier.
The Nov. 5 approval came after the Board had already voted to postpone the Personnel Rules changes to a future meeting. County Counsel Kristin Yuille then insisted the Board approve the changes that same day, and the Board ultimately reversed course in a 2-1 vote, with Miller requesting the public be given a chance to comment on the new changes.
Wallace also wrote that she believes Howard could be fired without her consultation or approval. Wallace said she does not approve of Howard being fired and asked that Howard be returned to work.
Howard has worked for Lincoln County for more than 19 years and has a history of positive performance reviews, according to Howard. She was elected to the Lincoln County Employees' Association union board in 2009 and served on it continuously until becoming president in 2022.
Broader Labor Concerns
The matter comes during broader concern about labor relations and employee leave practices. According to information provided to Lincoln County News Source, at least three other county employees are on administrative leave pending investigations. At least two others are reportedly on medical leave related to workplace stress. At least three employees have been fired in the last year, including another union officer.
Lincoln County News Source previously reported payments from the county general fund to private investigator Jim Ferraris, who conducted the Howard investigation. One invoice was signed only by Chuck. Miller said he was unaware of that action and had been told two commissioner signatures were required for such payments.
Unresolved Governance Questions
Miller told Lincoln County News Source that Wallace’s letter raises questions about “authority, process, appointing authority, delegation of authority,” and the roles of Human Resources, elected department heads, County Counsel and the Board of Commissioners.
Miller also said that the Board has not publicly discussed or taken formal action on the matters raised in Wallace’s June 8 email. He said he has requested clarification from county officials about the authority framework and decision-making process.
Unresolved questions include who authorized Howard’s leave, whether any extension beyond 30 days received proper approval under the rules in effect at the time, and how personnel authority is divided among Human Resources, elected department heads, the Acting County Administrator and the Board of Commissioners.
Chuck declined to comment citing Oregon Public Records laws.
About the author:
Ross Smith is a seventh generation Oregonian, publishing his first book in 1990. He is the principal author of RigbyVerify.com, and in 2026, has donated to Dan Osborne (I-NB), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Casey Miller (N-Lincoln County), and Mary Pelota's (D-AK) campaigns.
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