Charlie Langton: Wayne County's $200K Payout Controversy Continues

The public outcry could be heard for miles when Turkia Awana Mullin accepted a $200,000 payout from Wayne County to vacate her job as the county's chief development officer and become the CEO at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

And the fallout continues.

On Charlie Langton's Monday morning show on Talk 1270, County Commissioner Laura Cox, R-Livonia, called in to deny the outcry was sexist -- as some have claimed -- and fired off a host of reasons why this payout is questionable.

"It's ridiculous, you're talking about because she became the airport CEO people are picking on her," Cox said. "That's just bologna, it's just complaining and putting off responsibility for what happened, (claiming) sexism is ridiculous. She was a woman when she took the job."

Langton noted, "There are a lot of prominent women in Wayne County."

Cox -- and Langton -- also questioned claims that Mullin's payout was a contractual obligation for Wayne County.

"My only question is that I don't know the definition of severance," Langton said. "If you voluntarily leave and take another job, it's not a severance. I would question it."

Cox blamed both Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, and Mullin, for the scandal.

"She knew the financial state of the county when she took the job and to negotiate a deal where you're rich (when you leave)..." Cox said. "For Bob Ficano to engage in that contract is ridiculous."

The county commission  next meets Tuesday, when the issue is expected to come up.

"This issue is not going away," Langton said.