Embattled Official Under Fire Again

A man fired in 1989 as an administrator of Montana’s welfare agency in a sex discrimination case has been accused of sexual misconduct in the state of Washington.

Lee Tickell remains suspended, with pay from his job as executive director of the Community Action Council of Clallam and Jefferson counties in northwestern Washington.

The council works on housing and employment issues.

Tickell previously said he was cooperating fully with the investigation and would be vindicated, although he would not divulge the nature of the complaint.

In Montana, Tickell was accused of promoting a woman with whom he allegedly had an affair to a higher-paying job over a more qualified woman. The case was dropped for lack of evidence, but Tickell was convicted of a felony for vandalizing a truck belonging to a woman he believed was behind the investigation into the hiring.