Mott Community College Trustee Wendy Wolcott, one of three current trustees who are the subject of an active recall effort, has yet to explain publicly why she voted to hire an interim president of the College who has no higher education experience. This quote given to East Village Magazine’s Kate Stockrahm serves as the only public explanation she has given for the controversial hiring:

“It’s a sad day when my vote is being taken away,” Trustee Wolcott told EVM in response to the filing. “To be punished on how you vote is not right. I voted my conscience and I stand by that. My focus is on the students and the best interest of Mott. I will not be distracted or threatened. I have had enough, and I’m ready to get back to what we are supposed to be doing as a board. I still have hope that I can bridge the gap and bring us all together.”

That explanation does not address why she, or her colleagues who supported the hire, thought that the only candidate among four finalists who had no higher education experience was best-suited for the complex job.

From Dylan Goetz of MLive:

Freeman and Figueroa alleged Andy Everman, who later became board chair, Janet Couch and newly elected members Jeffery Swanson and Wendy Wolcott all violated the act by deciding board positions in private and long before the organizational meeting during phone conversations.

“I got the very clear impression that decisions were already made,” Figueroa said.

The four members each voted in a block to elect Everman as board chair, Couch as vice chair, Wolcott as secretary and Swanson as treasurer.

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This one from Dylan Goetz of MLive speaks for itself:

Newly elected Mott Community College Board Chair Andy Everman was caught on a hot mic telling a staff member to “don’t be a p****” during his first meeting in charge.

The MCC Board of Trustee meetings are livestreamed where his comments could be heard on a live microphone.

A portion of the livestream includes Everman stating, “That’s why I vote and made that motion about you. So, if you’ve got a problem with that, don’t be a p**** and not say anything to me. Always talk to me.”

Read the full story.