USA TODAY International Edition
Workers describe toxic DNC host panel
Top officials probed for mismanagement
MILWAUKEE – The two top officials overseeing Milwaukee’s host committee for the 2020 Democratic National Convention were sidelined Monday amid allegations of a toxic work culture.
In a letter to staff obtained by the Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, the board said it had retained an attorney to investigate “concerns about the work environment” for the Milwaukee 2020 Host Committee.
During the investigation, Liz Gilbert, president of the host committee, will not be in the office and “will not have direct contact with staff,” the letter says. Adam Alonso, chief of staff for the group, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the inquiry.
Both will be paid as the investigation moves forward. The letter gives no timeline when Carmen N. Decot, a partner with Foley & Lardner, will finish her inquiry.
The abrupt move comes less than six months before the start of the Democratic National Convention. The host committee – the civic, nonpartisan arm of the convention – is responsible for raising $ 70 million to stage the July event at Fiserv Forum and recruit about 15,000 volunteers.
“We are committed to an inclusive, non- discriminatory, and supportive environment at the host committee and we will work to ensure that all employees live up to these ideals,” the board said in its letter.
Joe Solmonese, chief executive of the Democratic National Convention Committee, issued a statement acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations. His group, which runs the convention, is separate from the host committee.
“The Democratic Party is firm in our belief that every person deserves to feel safe and respected at their place of work, and we will always take seriously claims of bullying and workplace harassment,” he said.
He said the claims made by employees of the host committee “present an unacceptable and upsetting environment.”
Solmonese added that the host committee board of directors “is moving forward with a plan to restore an office culture that aligns with the values and expectations of our party.”
Alonso said he was proud of the team he created and would cooperate with the investigation.
The shakeup came as the Journal Sentinel contacted the host committee over concerns about the group’s work environment. The host committee recently received a letter from multiple staffers raising similar complaints.
In interviews with the Journal Sentinel, two political hands who have worked with the host committee described it as rife with power struggles, backbiting and mismanagement.
They accused Gilbert and Alonso of giving contracts to their friends in New Jersey, calling meetings and then failing to attend them, and being more focused on accumulating power than promoting Milwaukee.
“It’s one of the worst – if not the worst – I have worked on,” the first official said of the host committee.
The second official said staffers would become sick to their stomachs when working with the host committee, the first time they experienced a toxic work environment.
“You know it when you see it, when you feel it,” the second official said.
The two sources no longer work with the host committee. They asked that their names not be used.