Two county commissioners in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, Jennifer Krouse and Tricia Jackson, were ordered to be removed from office by a three-judge panel after being arrested for purposefully shirking their duties by skipping public meetings. The judges found that Krouse and Jackson engaged in a pattern of conduct that amounted to a deliberate refusal to perform their duties. They were arraigned in Jefferson County Magistrate Court on 42 misdemeanor charges and were petitioned to be removed from office by the prosecutor’s office in November.
Despite the charges against them, Krouse and Jackson did not respond to requests for comment. In a public Facebook post, Jackson stated that she plans to appeal the decision and will continue to run for state auditor. The matter of their removal from office began when they skipped seven meetings in late 2023 to protest the selection of candidates to replace a commissioner who had resigned. This caused disruptions in the commission’s ability to conduct business and approve grants for important projects in the county.
Krouse and Jackson’s absences from the meetings prevented the commission from filling critical positions, approving grants for victim advocates and courthouse renovations, and caused the county to miss out on a grant for courthouse improvements. Despite their absences, both commissioners continued to receive benefits and paychecks. They only began returning to meetings after a court order. Krouse took office in 2023, while Jackson was serving as a commissioner since 2021.
The judges who presided over the case decided to remove Krouse and Jackson from office due to their intentional refusal to perform their duties, as evidenced by their repeated absences from meetings. The decision to remove them was made after a thorough review of the evidence presented in court. Krouse and Jackson now have the option to appeal the decision, as Jackson has indicated she plans to do, potentially continuing the legal battle over their removal from office.
