City’s nepotism policy was changed in December
City of Henderson officials say the hiring of Commissioner Robert Pruitt’s daughter as a city employee is not a case of nepotism.
“Her resume stands on her own,” said Commissioner Pruitt. “She didn’t get the job because of me. She got the job because of her.”
During Tuesday’s scheduled city commission meeting, Breasha Pruitt, along with other new city hires, is scheduled to be recognized. She has been hired as a project coordinator.
Assistant City Manager Buzzy Newman said the hire came after an independent committee of city staff conducted interviews. He said that he told Commissioner Pruitt that he could not communicate with him about the hiring process.
Newman said the hiring committee believed she was the best person for the job. “She was the person the committee chose,” he said.
Additionally, he said the committee discussed the reactions that could come from the community, including charges of nepotism.
“We knew going into this it was going to be an issue,” he said.
When first asked about the hire, Mayor Brad Staton said he doesn’t “do the hiring directly.”
He then said he believes the rules the city has in place precludes a family member of a commissioner from being hired as a department head. He said that family members of commissioners can work in jobs below department heads. That was confirmed by Newman.
When asked if the hire is case of nepotism, Newman said, “According to policy—we looked at it—and the answer is no.”
The Hendersonian asked to see the city’s nepotism policy, and after the interview with Newman Friday afternoon, the city forwarded the policy.
The policy, Article 146-Nepotism, states in point C that:
“No immediate family member of a City elected official or HWU board member shall be approved to be hired as a contract employee, hazardous duty employee, or Department Head…”
The position of project coordinator doesn’t fit into any of those classifications.
In the policy that the city sent, however, a small notation is beside the title, (December 2024), meaning that the policy was amended at that time.
Records from the city commission’s December 4, 2024, special called meeting show that a change to point C—and others—was approved at that meeting.
Before the policy was changed at that meeting, city records show that it had read:
“No immediate family member of a City elected official or HWU board member shall be approved to be on the City payroll.”
Additionally, the city’s nepotism policy, in point A, still states:
“The Human Resources Director shall not approve any applicant who has a member of his/her immediate family on the City payroll, unless approval is granted by the appointing authority in writing for a waiver of this rule for the benefit of the City.”
The appointing authority in the hiring of Breasha Pruitt is City Manager Dylan Ward, according to Newman. A message was left with Ward Saturday, but he did not respond before this article was posted to the Hendersonian’s website.
(See the city’s current nepotism policy and the amendments made at the Dec. 4, 2024, special called meeting below this article.)
Commissioner Pruitt said his daughter applied like anyone else. He said the city doesn’t discriminate against a person because of who their father is, mentioning that the city also hired state Sen. Robby Mills’ daughter, Chelsea, as finance director.
When it was pointed out that Robby Mills is a state employee, Commissioner Pruitt said he’s still elected by Henderson residents and represents Henderson residents.
Breasha Pruitt is a business owner who runs a gymnastics training center in Evansville, Breasha Pruitt Gymnastics. She was also honored at the Stan Musial Awards late last year, accepting a national honor for extraordinary sportsmanship when she began training athletes from another gym after their coach became injured and was unable to train them anymore. The Hendersonian detailed that in a December article.
Both Staton and Newman said Pruitt will work with the Community Development Block Grant program. Newman said her past experience in grant work, which included securing a multi-million dollar grant for Henderson County Schools, was one reason she got the job.
Newman said Breasha Pruitt will work under the city’s project manager, Jenna Basham. He said city staff and leaders are “very aware of who (Breasha Pruitt’s) father is” and said that if the hire were to not work out, the city would have to handle it in the same manner as other staffers.
“We’re prepared to deal with her the way we would any other employee,” Newman said.
At Tuesday’s recognition of new hires, the city commission is scheduled to approve the new hires after their recognition, Newman said. He said Commissioner Pruitt will need to recuse himself from that action.
Commissioner Pruitt said that his daughter might be the most accomplished hire the city has made in a long time.
“We just got better with Breasha,” he said, adding she could have chosen to go to other places to work. “I’m glad she chose Henderson to help us.”
