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Metro Councilwoman talks to WAVE about radio rift with colleague

By Connie Leonard - bio | email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - The controversy surrounding Councilwoman Judy Green continues with a radio rift involving a fellow council member.

Green, is the target of an ethics commission investigation into money mismanagement with a summer jobs program. 

She was a guest on WLOU radio this past weekend to tell her side of the story.

But, during the broadcast, Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin says Green started targeting her.

"There was a lot of people listening and I knew she was speaking of me," Shanklin said.

Thursday afternoon's caucus meeting was awkward---to say the least---as Councilwoman Shanklin sat uncomfortably next to Dr. Green.

The two haven't spoken since the Saturday incident on gospel station WLOU.

"The host of the show called me, " Shanklin said, "And they apologized, they said they had no idea."

No idea ---Shanklin says---that Green's time on the show to defend herself against allegations of money mismanagement would turn into a finger pointing game of other council members.

Shanklin says Green questioned her ethics of hiring her grandson in her office a few years ago. Shanklin says she was so upset, she called in.  "I just wanted to get the record straight and make sure everyone knew I wasn't doing anything wrong."

Council representatives tell WAVE 3 News, Shanklin did get permission from the ethics commission. "I followed the rules and he was grandfathered in, " Shanklin said.

Shanklin told us, Green also called out another council member for a similar hiring.

But, what makes her most upset? She says she befriended Green when she became a target of the LMPD Public Integrity Unit Investigation.

"I told her, "Shanklin said of their conversation, " Stay calm and it will work out and I tried to be her friend but, then when someone turns around and attacks you, it does make you feel bad."

Shanklin told us of calling the show, "This was not my battle but, sometimes you have to stand up for what's right."

We wanted to get Green's side of the story about what happened on the radio but, she referred us to her attorney Kent Wicker.

Wicker tells us, " It was not Dr. Green's intent to disparage any fellow council members, she holds them in the highest regard." He said, " Her comments were simply misunderstood."

No one from WLOU answered numerous requests from WAVE this week to get a copy of the radio broadcast.

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