County parking standoff: Day 2: Gatson says her workers are just fighting back

DAILY MAIL STAFF

County employees frustrated with the tactics of Sheriff DaveTucker in the battle for parking spaces at the Kanawha CountyCourthouse struck back today, with one employee who was refused aspace choosing to block in a sheriff's cruiser.

Peggy Pope, chief deputy in the assessor's office, has beenparking in the same spot for the past month while construction at thecourthouse continues.

When Pope arrived this morning, she found a deputy's cruiserblocking the space and a deputy guarding the spot. After a similarconfrontation between county employees and deputies Wednesday, Popesaid she had "had enough."

She parked her Mitsubishi SUV in front of the cruiser and blockedit in.

"There was never an assigned spot there," Pope said. "That parkingspot is exactly where I've been parking, and I'm disappointed withthe sheriff's actions."

Sgt. R.D. Clarkson, who was guarding the parking lot this morning,told department officials he had asked workers on the constructionproject to clear a space close to the building, but that Pope hadrefused the space and insisted on parking in her regular spot.

Assessor Phyllis Gatson stood in the parking lot to overseedeputies' actions.

"It's pretty ridiculous, and I feel stupid even standing here,"Gatson said. "But if they're going to do this, I want to see how farthey'll take it."

Gatson said Sheriff Dave Tucker has made an issue of countyparking for weeks. County officials were told to give up severalspots during the renovation of the building, but Tucker has notcomplied, Gatson said.

"I didn't create this problem, we're just fighting back," Gatsonsaid. "I'm not going to let (Tucker) run over me, even if he'ssheriff of West Virginia."

Many have speculated on a possible showdown between Tucker andGatson in the 2004 Democratic primary for assessor. Tucker has servedthe legal limit of two terms and has said he has considered a run forassessor. Gatson already has announced her intention to try and keepher post.

Chief Deputy Phil Morris said that for the sheriff's department,parking problems have nothing to do with politics.

"We're not going to let this turn into a political football andwant to meet with Assessor Gatson to work this out," Morris said.

Gatson's employee, Ginny Moles, said the parking lot tacticsseemed more like a power grab by Tucker.

"It's like everybody else can be displaced - us, the countycommission, the clerks - but not the sheriff," Moles said.

Hours after Pope first blocked the cruiser in, the standoffremained unresolved as all employees abandoned the lot and thecruiser remained without an easy exit.

Sheriff Dave Tucker stopped by the lot when Gatson and heremployees left, but said he had better things to do than worry aboutparking disputes.

"I don't have time to worry about trivial things like this,"Tucker said. "I've got a job to do."

Sgt. Jess Bailes, spokesman for the sheriff, said the deputiesfirst were placed on the parking lot to ensure cruisers, which oftenhave to make quick exits, had parking spaces.

"I think what we have here is a misunderstanding," Bailes said."Expectations about the parking lot were not made clear. There needsto be a clear plan, as to whose spots are whose. And with all thepeople involved, the whole thing can be resolved."

Bailes and deputies met with Gatson and her employees later todecide whose spaces were whose.

The spot in question this morning officially was assigned to Popeby County Manager Dan Blue.

Commissioner Kent Carper said, "If there had been adult conductwhen we set up initial meetings and everybody had worked together, wewouldn't be having this problem.

"If they really wanted us to mediate and take care of the parkingproblem, all it takes is a phone call."

The county commission is in charge of the parking lot and handingout spaces to the elected officials. The issue was expected to be onthe agenda at tonight's commission meeting.

Writer Kris Wise can be reached at 348-1244 or by e-mail atkriswise@dailymail.com.