Ex-chaplain cites coroner’s ‘willful violation of public trust’ in ethics spat
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Friday, Oct. 10, 2014, 10 a.m. — Nelson County Coroner Rayfield “Field” Houghlin was advised on more than one occasion his hiring of his daughter as deputy coroner violated the nepotism rules contained in the county’s ethics ordinance, yet took no action to resolve the conflict.
NELSON COUNTY CORONER RAYFIELD ‘FIELD’ HOUGHLIN
That’s one of the allegations contained in a lengthy social media post that appeared early Friday morning titled “Field Houghlin: The Real Story!” by former Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Doug Alexander.
His 2,146-word post appeared on the Facebook page of The Kentucky Ethic, a printed and electronic news sheet that has taken local media and elected officials to task while voicing support for Republican judge executive candidate Pete Trzop.
In his post, Alexander came forward and acknowledged he was “T.P.”, the editor of The Kentucky Ethic, stating the initials are an alias that stand for Thomas Paine, the 18th century political activist who authored the pro-Revolution pamphlet “Common Sense” in 1776.
Alexander writes that he first met Rebecca Houghlin when she accompanied her father as deputy coroner at the scene of a a fatal accident on KY 245. When Alexander brought up the nepotism issue with her father at the accident scene, Houghlin “got quiet, mumbled something about having run it by (Judge Executive Dean Watts), and he said it was no problem.”
Alexander said he brought up the issue directly with Houghlin a second time during a funeral home visitation at one of Houghlin’s funeral homes. Houghlin again told him that he had the appointment OK’d. Alexander adds that he brought the nepotism issue to the attention of two other individuals close to Houghlin and the coroner’s office on several occasions without success.
“The problem that makes this situation one I can’t ignore at this point is the importance of the willful violation of the public trust,” Alexander wrote. “Field misrepresented the facts of this issue to the ethics board.”
An April 29 coroner’s office press release quotes Houghlin stating that he “requested Judge Executive Dean Watts to appoint (his daughter), later calling it “an oversight on my part and Judge Watts.”
At Houghlin’s June 4 ethics board hearing, Houghlin, through his attorney Doug Hubbard, admitted the violation but backed away from the claim that others made mistakes or that Houghlin was trying to blame others.
“We’re underneath the bus, but we’re not trying to get anyone else underneath it with us,” Hubbard told the board on Houghlin’s behalf.
Alexander claims Houghlin’s misrepresentation of the facts surrounding the appointment was the basis for Judge Executive Dean Watts’ decision to not follow the full recommendation of the ethics board.
Nelson Fiscal Court fined Houghlin $1,000 but did not require him to pay back his daughter’s deputy coroner salary and training expenses. Watts explained that the move wasn’t necessary because the county received the benefit of her services during her tenure as a deputy coroner.
As a result Alexander wrote, Houghlin “got a time out instead of a trip to the wood shed. He used a lie to make things look better for him and immediately started acting like a victim instead of the offender.”
Alexander also questioned the handling of the coroner’s office, alleging that Houghlin mingles coroner’s office duties with his funeral home business. He wrote he had witnessed Houghlin badger individuals who chose not to use his funeral home services, and that he witnessed Houghlin argue with the family of a murder victim.
Alexander also alleges that Houghlin has left deceased individuals at a scene for hours after being told they were not going to use his funeral home.
“It’s legal to leave the deceased, but is it compassionate, appropriate and ethical?” Alexander wrote, “He argues it is appropriate and the right thing to do … It may be, but is it right?”
Alexander writes that he regretted it was necessary to confront Houghlin in such a public manner.
“I have attempted many ways that are less harsh and have hit walls at each place because folks have been told to back off handling this or face consequences.”
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