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The purpose of this Blog is to pick up where the Atkinson Reporter has left off. "The King is dead, Long live the King!" This Blog is a forum for the discussion of predominantly Atkinson; Officials, People, Ideas, and Events. You may give opinion, fact, or evaluation, but ad hominem personal attacks will not be tolerated, or published. The conversation begun on the Atkinson Reporter MUST be continued!

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Thursday, June 19, 2014

Editorial: Reams had become an unwelcome distraction

Whether he chooses to call it a resignation or a retirement, the departure of James Reams from the Rockingham County attorney’s office is welcome news.
Following a suspension, investigation and the attempt by county commissioners to force him from office over allegations of mismanagement of department funds and sexual harassment of female staffers, Reams had become a distraction who was not serving the people of Rockingham County well.
Reams, 66, has been accused of a long list of misdeeds and mismanagement in recent months. In November, he was suspended by county commissioners and his prosecutorial authority was stripped by Attorney General Joseph Foster over allegations he mismanaged county money and sexually harassed female employees. The attorney general’s office accused Reams of having inappropriate contact with women in his office, telling them not to get pregnant and retaliating against those who did. The AG’s office also said Reams would also invite employees to bring their bathing suits to his home to use his hot tub, earning him the nickname “Creepy Jim.”
Reams denied the allegations.
Reams was ordered reinstated to his job by Merrimack Superior Court Judge Richard McNamara in April. But Reams’ problems on the job continued, according to county commissioners.
Reams was accused of removing the name of a former Salem police officer, Eric Lamb, from the state’s Laurie List, a list of law enforcement officers with credibility issues that could jeopardize court cases. Lamb is the husband of Patricia Conway, an assistant county attorney who is one of five candidates running to replace Reams in the September primary.
In the letter to the county commissioners announcing his departure, Reams named Conway acting deputy county attorney and placed her in charge of the office.
“Since Jim has been back, the situation hasn’t gotten any better,” Commissioner Thomas Tombarello said. “We were told he wasn’t there to perform his job. I just felt there were a lot of problems in that office.”
Commissioner Kevin Coyle cited an ongoing problem with factionalism in the county attorney’s office.
“Since he’s been back, we’ve had more issues,” Coyle said. “He really hasn’t been an effective leader since he’s been back.”
Reams lambasted the county commissioners for their interference in his management of the office.
“They were constantly doing illegal things,” he told reporter Doug Ireland. “There is no petty thing they wouldn’t do.”
In an agreement announced Tuesday afternoon, the County Commission said Reams had resigned and would be paid his salary for the remainder of the year, which amounts to about $42,000.
Reams disputed the characterization of his departure as a resignation, saying that he was “retiring because they made it worth my while.”
Whatever.
It is now up to the 46 members of the Rockingham County legislative delegation to decide how to handle a replacement for Reams. Their best decision would be to take up Attorney General Foster on his offer to provide interim leadership for the office. Voters are fortunate that they have a field of well qualified candidates from which to choose in the upcoming election.
It is unfortunate that Reams’ 15-year career as the county’s chief prosecutor had to end on a sour note. However, Reams brought this misfortune upon himself.


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good riddance. Any evolved person would've quit while he was ahead. To cling to this job after being exposed as a sexual harrasser is incredible and stupid. Is there a vaccine for sociopathy, because some people in the local news need to be avoided, incarcerated and forgotten.

Anonymous said...

To answer your question on a vaccine I'd say there isn't any here in Atkinson.

Anonymous said...

Speaking about abusive men, I was hoping the Dow boyfriend baby abuser from Plaistow would get a much longer sentence. Abusers of children, women or any acknowledged physically weaker person is dispicable. I can' t stand to hear people swearing in front of children, dragging them around using angry tones or subjecting them to their addictive alcohol and pot smoking habits. Women who tolerate this behavior have serious inferiority problems and usually a lack of skills and education. Usually, not always. Sometimes they are also sociopaths and don't care about anyone including themselves. After a while, you can pick them out of a crowd without much study.

Anonymous said...

Sexual Harasser Philip V. Consentino is one such person. Supported behavior by his wife Jody. One is as sick as the other. Both should be shunned in public and private.

jmo

Anonymous said...

Sexual Harasser Philip V. Consentino is one such person. Supported behavior by his wife Jody. One is as sick as the other. Both should be shunned in public and private.

jmo

Anonymous said...


What gets written on the Tombstone:

"Perverts Rule - Critics Mort"

"Thanks For All The Sue-bucks "

"Hammered by the Rack"

"Blessed Be A 501C"