Ivie denies suit’s allegations
Councilwoman says newspaper decision
was unbiased
By MEGAN THOMAS
Express Staff Writer
The dispute arising between Lee Publishing
Inc., the corporation that owns and operates the Wood River Journal in Hailey,
and the City of Bellevue has prompted City Councilwoman Vivian Ivie to deny
alleged statements attributed to her in the lawsuit.
Vivian Ivie
Lee Publishing Inc. filed a lawsuit in 5th
District Court on Thursday, July 8, contesting the council’s decision to change
the city’s official newspaper from the Wood River Journal to the Idaho Mountain
Express in Ketchum.
In the suit Lee Publishing Inc. alleges
the City Council denied the Wood River Journal due process of law and claims an
array of allegations from violation of Idaho statutes and the U.S. Constitution
to alleged mistreatment by city officials, including Ivie.
Ivie denied the alleged statements
attributed to her by the plaintiff.
"I am trying to figure out how this got
misconstrued," Ivie said Monday, July 19. "The council made the decision to
change newspapers based on the facts presented by the attorneys. There was no
personal vendetta."
The lawsuit alleges Ivie acted out of
personal bias. It claims that Ivie moved to change newspapers as an act of
"prejudice" after her friend, Patty Healey, was released from her job of 25
years with the Journal.
Ivie stated she made no comments in
reference to Healey during the meeting and her vote was in no way based on
personal feelings.
"I was shocked as anyone to hear Patty was
fired, but it had nothing to do with the direction the city was going, and it
had nothing to do with my vote," Ivie said.
"I voted with the rest of the council
based on circulation. We wanted a change in newspapers," she added.
The lawsuit claims that Ivie said to Wood
River Journal editor Kristan Kennedy: "So I hear you fired Patty. She is a
friend of mine and that’s going to be very bad for you, Very Bad. Just wait."
Lee Enterprises Inc. claims Ivie was
partial and should have been ineligible to vote.
Ivie also pointed out that during the
council’s deliberations to change papers, she actually suggested printing in
both papers. "I was the only person to bring up if we could use both
(newspapers). Our attorney advised us that we couldn’t. I still think it is a
viable solution," she said.
The lawsuit asks for an injunction to
prevent the City of Bellevue from changing the Journal’s current status as its
newspaper of record. It also asks the court to return the matter to
consideration by the council without Ivie’s participation.
She called the lawsuit silly, and
emphasized "I do want it straightened out."