Danforth, Hart spar over diversity policy

Republican Lake County Board member Michael Danforth once again faced off against Democratic board Chairwoman Sandy Hart during Friday's committee-of-the-whole meeting, this time over a proposal to add diversity and inclusion policy to the county employee manual.

Danforth objected not to the text of the proposed policy but to the fact that the board's financial and administrative committee recommended the new policy rather than the diversity and inclusion committee, of which he is a member. A few other board members also questioned the procedure, but not as vehemently as Danforth.

Danforth and Hart have squared off over a number of procedural and political issues in recent months, most prominently the emergency declaration giving Hart special powers during the COVID-19 crisis.

The board will vote on adding the policy to the manual when it meets remotely at 9 a.m. Tuesday. You can observe that meeting live at lakecounty.tv.