(La Porte County, IN) - The former La Porte County Highway Department superintendent says political retribution was the reason for his firing.

 

Allen Stevens said he took the job in January to bring change to a department with trucks, equipment and facilities in poor condition.

 

Stevens noted he was also implementing a plan to improve the condition of county roads and keep politics out of decision making. He said things were progressing smoothly until Commissioner Connie Gramarossa began letting Commissioner Rich Mrozinski “call all of the shots.”

 

Stevens alleged they demanded he hire and promote family members, fire perceived political opponents and perform other acts like manipulating county paving contracts for political gain.

 

Stevens also mentioned he was also instructed to talk to the Indiana Attorney General about backing off on his lawsuit against the county commissioners over their refusal to turn over emails from the former prosecutor to the current prosecutor, Sean Fagan.

 

Stevens insisted that he refused to carry out such demands and was fired as a result, blaming Mrozinski for his termination. Stevens is also chairman of the La Porte County Republican Party, which voted last year to remove Mrozinski as a member.

 

“I refused to perform unethical activities and he chose to terminate me,” he said.

 

Mrozinski denied politics had anything to do with the firing, which he blamed on Stevens' failture to perform a number of work-related requests.