| Because this has been copied from a cached page, the formatting is messed up. I am trying to fix it. The original Billings Outpost comments are lost, except for this cache file.
Marlene Braun’s suicide |
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| Dear Mr. Wilkinson,
Thank you for your story about Marlene Braun’s death and the BLM. As her executor, of course I care deeply about the story, but my concern is not solely about Marlene, for whom nothing can be done now, but as you point out, for employees continuing to live in an environment where men like her boss, Ron Huntsinger, are not even given paid leave pending investigation. Not to mention the environmental damage that continues. I was shocked at the willingness of managers to pretend this didn’t happen while employees were grieving. Marlene loved being the Monument Manager and cared deeply for her employees, however much she demanded from them (she was a perfectionist, though not a perfect person–who is?). She liked working for the BLM. I was shocked that I had to beg the California state director for letters of condolence to Marlene’s family because her field supervisor, Ron, never wrote any. In my dealings with the BLM, I have met many wonderful people who work for them, biologists and botanists who are dedicated scientists and fine people. But I have been stunned by the lack of care management seems to have in investigating this death seriously. If I killed myself and said in a letter my boss caused me to do it, I think my boss would be put on paid leave while it was checked out. But I work for the state of Connecticut. Sincerely, Dr. Katherine Hermes Trustee, The Living Trust of Marlene A. Braun Associate Professor of History Central Connecticut State University 1615 Stanley Street New Britain, CT 06050 (860) 482-3421 |
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| my sister’s death by Phyllis Braun at 2005/08/26 16:50:32 GMT-6 |
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| Dear Mr. Wilkinson,
I want to thank you for writing this article relating to my sister’s suicide in May. Sometimes I have numb and it is heartening to hear people I don’t know relating what I felt to be work abuse of my sister. She was not politically savy, that is for sure. Writings I have read from my sister clearly showed me she had no idea what a political freight train was bearing down upon her those last 16 months she was at the Carrizo. She loved it beyond any description and I want to see more investigations, deeper delving and I want to see Ron Huntsinger fired so that he cannot ever do that kind of cruel badgering to another employee. I also want to see the Carrizo protected. Thank you again for your words. Sincerely, Phyllis Braun, Taos, NM |
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| Marlene Braun by DJ at 2005/08/26 23:32:13 GMT-6 |
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| ALL Federal agencies are totally political. But, the BLM was just as hard on it’s honest employees under the Clinton Administration as it is under the Bush Administration. In fact, politics has always been THE MAJOR FORCE behind the BLM, the Park Service, the Forest Service. It is the politicians and those in management who cowtoe to the politicians which creates the hazards of being a lands management “public servant”. Ranchers and Energy Companies have always been put ahead of wildlife and natural resources when it comes to the government. Sad, but true. AND I personally know the BLM management will go to any extremes to protect itself … at the sacrifice of its employees!!! respond |
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| BLM by deborah at 2005/08/27 22:24:11 GMT-6 |
| Having dealt with the BLM for many years watching them slowly destroy America’s wild horses, I can appreciate her frustration. respond |
| Marlene Braun by Sue Steinacher at 2005/08/28 16:16:32 GMT-6 |
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| Marlene was a dear friend and a co-worker when we were both with BLM in Fairbanks, Alaska. She was an extraordinarily intellegent, passionate and generous woman. She was also uncompromising in her role as a steward of the land; a very difficult position to maintain in an agency as politically driven as BLM with its multiple-use mandate.
This has never been more true than under this current administration, where sound, longstanding, bipartisan environmental protections are under assault. The American people will learn much too late how much they have been manipulated and lied to without watchdogs and bulldogs like Marlene. How tragic that it takes her death to shine even the smallest light on how America is robbing its own future for the benefit of a powerful few. I now work for the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game in western and northern Alaska. Our highly development-minded state adminstration is in step with BLM and the fedreral adminstration as they march westward across the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), overturning compromises reached through an extensive public-comment process in 1998, and removing protections of critical areas first established under James Watt during the Reagan administration. Our wildlife biologists are being silenced with threats of funding cuts to entire wildlife management programs if they dare suggest that development plans need to take into account the needs of wildlife. And so the public remains uninformed; always understanding too little too late. We in the North witness the negative consequences of global warming firsthand, and yet our leaders further imperil our wildlife and the habitat they depend on in the never-ending search for energy sources that fuel the global warming process. The furute will surely look back on our legacy of selfishness and shortsightedness with amazement and dismay. It breaks my heart that Marlene made the choice she did, but knowing her it doesn’t entirely surpise me to realize just how much she cared about something much bigger than her life. She was an extraordinary woman in life, and she is an extraordinary woman in death. She is missed and mourned by more people that she could have imagined. Sue Steinacher, Nome, Alaska |
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| lost hope by Steve Everett at 2005/09/05 21:31:47 GMT-6 |
| Because of Ron’s ruthless actions, Marlene finally lost hope. This website lists the 10 common elements of suicide. Many of the elements describe Marlene’s unbearable circumstances- an answer to an otherwise insoluble problem or a way out of some unbearable dilemma; people with high standards and expectations are especially vulnerable to ideas of suicide when progress toward these goals is suddenly frustrated; the suicidal person is convinced that absolutely nothing can be done to improve his or her situation; no one else can help; and lastly, suicide provides a definitive way to escape from intolerable circumstances. The system failed her-this should never have happened Why was Ron Huntsinger allowed to do this and why is he still employed? We demand some answers!http://www.survivorsofsuicide.com/understanding.shtml respond |
| Marlenes Battle by Rick Ebers at 2005/09/06 18:28:49 GMT-6 |
| Thanks to Julie Cart of the LA Times and Todd Wilkinson of the Billings Outpost for the excellent journalism and for sharing a very sad situation. It certainly is disgusting that someone so talented – who tries to see all points of view, seeks consensus, and has such a love for life and the environment was pushed to a point so frustrating that she felt there was only one way out. And it is especially difficult to believe that anyone would behave like her supervisor in this day and age and then get away with it! With all the director’s memos and training classes that are given/implemented to condemn and prohibit workplace harassment and violence, it seems especially incongruous that this type of behavior is tolerated.
This monument (as a worksite) is very isolated, and since the many of the confrontations were without witnesses, it would place more frustration and stress on Marlene. The LA times article said she flooded Ron with communication and in civilized conditions that should be encouraged. The stronger are not supposed to intimidate – whether by physical force or force of position. Isn’t everyone supposed to use logic and have the freedom to defend or further their ideas? I know that politics is a large part of furthering one’s ideas – and politics includes social interaction (to the extent of schmoozing or using the lever of powerful, influential connections). But all the elements I just mentioned can be used through civil discussion without physical and psychological harassment and/or intimidation to drive someone out. The BLM sacrificed an excellent dedicated employee. Marlene fought the battle but lost the war. |
| Marlene by Susan at 2005/09/06 20:46:09 GMT-6 |
| We’ve heard a lot about Marlene’s performance as the consummate professional and its all true, but I’d like to also point out that she was one of the most honest, kind-hearted, truest friends anyone could ever have. This is why Marlene had many, many friends all across the nation who considered her their best friend, including me. I, like her other friends, spent many days over the past year talking with her as she described her unbelievable situation, listening to her cry, listening to her frustrations and confusion about what to do next, and wondering who she could trust. Her friends struggled to give the best advise they could to help her and counted on Marlene’s strong nature to pull through; but none of her friends were aware of the fact that she had been served with two more reprimands near the end. Her back was finally broken. She had reached the point of hopelessness and saw no way out. She was not going to, in her eyes, burden her friends with her troubles any more. She was going to take control of the situation. Had they known, any one of her dear friends would have driven day and night to drag her out of there and offer their homes to her for as long as she needed. We all blame ourselves for not calling that week, for not being there when she really needed us. As the good person she was, the day before her suicide, Marlene baked a cake for her associate manager’s mother who was stricken with cancer and offered to take her to her cancer treatment. She called her favorite Uncle Earl to see if he needed anything and told him she loved him for the first time……and the last time. We miss her greatly. respond |
| The Rest of the Story by Friends of Marlene at 2005/09/07 18:05:04 GMT-6 |
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| As a supervisory government employee, Ron Huntsinger’s primary responsibility was to his employee’s safety and welfare. This should be common sense, but in addition, there are numerous required trainings that would have emphasized this to Ron; apparently Ron lacks sensitivity and/or was sleeping during the trainings…or maybe he was so intent on his mission to get her fired or force her to quit that he put that above concerns for her welfare. It appears that once Ron recognized Marlene’s strong will and his inability to control her, his goal was to work with the human resources dept and management to make a case for her dismissal.
The downfall of Marlene started in September 2004, when Ron threatened her with a letter of reprimand. Her crime was that she had sent out an email correcting a factual mistake spoken by Ron (apparently its preferred to have incorrect info out there than to correct your supervisor). It is distressing that this minor infraction was so overblown, however, it can now be seen as a red flag that something more than trying to merely discipline an “insubordinate employee” was under way. After several weeks of anguishing over a possible reprimand, Marlene said she asked Ron when she would receive it and he replied “I’ll give it to you when I’m damn well ready to. You brought this on yourself.” In an attempt to rectify the situation, Marlene requested a mediation meeting with Ron and it was scheduled for October 5th, 2004. Marlene’s hope of solving it through mediation though were dashed when Ron strategically served her with the reprimand (notice of suspension without pay) that, because of some kind of government policy, immediately cancelled the mediation process to Ron’s advantage (he didn’t want to resolve it; he wanted her fired). Marlene and her colleagues were in disbelief at the action and encouraged her to fight it; It was almost laughable that this could be happening to someone of Marlene’s caliber. Everyone who knew her was confident that upper management would never in a million years support it and must have somehow been misled; however, this turned out to be a wrong assumption. Over the next few months, Ron continued his attacks and stripped her of her manager duties, denied her of a much needed vacation and made taking sick leave difficult. As a direct result of the anxiety created by this situation, many employees and friends watched as Marlene went from a healthy vibrant employee to a depressed walking skeleton. Her colleagues encouraged her to go to the doctor to seek treatment for depression to help her through this tough time (prior to Ron’s arrival, she was not on any medication to treat anxiety or depression). Employees directly expressed their concerns to Ron about her extreme weight loss and the toll the stress was taking on her mentally. Even Marlene talked to Ron about the stress this was causing and her deteriorating health conditions. At her weakest point, Ron decided to serve the final blow by giving her additional reprimands a week before she took her life. Marlene, as a fighter for what she believes in, and did all the right things by attempting to schedule mediation, hiring an attorney, contacting assistance programs, defending herself to upper management (she even proposed to “write an apology to Ron Huntsinger and apologize to him in person as well”) and responding with a grievance to their decision. During each step Marlene threw every ounce of energy she had into fighting it, but grew increasing weary and frustrated as it took a toll on her health. When her grievance was denied, she was too weary to appeal the decision and knew they were hell-bent of getting rid of her. They did. It will be interesting to see what puppet they choose to fill in behind her. |
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| marlene braun by nick at 2005/09/07 22:03:38 GMT-6 |
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| Obviously Marlene was very unstable. Died over dirt ! respond |
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| Marlene by Streamnut at 2005/09/10 08:22:06 GMT-6 |
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| Marlene was a good person, in a bad situation. I know. Been there too, as the BLM’s Lead Wildlife Biologist in Barstow, California. Many of us career folks who thought in the latter days of the Clinton-Gore administration that things were turning around for the better in terms of public land managers finally addressing the national crisis in off-road vehicle management on our public lands, requiring vehicle route designation and rangeland reform, as well as requiring forward planning for true biodiveristy protection and global warming implications were shocked with the reversal of all environmental progress with the advent of the Bush administration. Vice President Gore’s Hammer Program requiring increased government efficiency and accountability was replaced with a fraudulent program of how to ensure all subsidized uses continue with lessened restrictions under the guise of “collaboration” and “voluntary conservation”. Even where discovered truths, sound science, established law and public opinion speak otherwise. respond |
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| Marlene by Streamnut at 2005/09/10 08:22:06 GMT-6 |
| Marlene was a good person, in a bad situation. I know. Been there too, as the BLM’s Lead Wildlife Biologist in Barstow, California. Many of us career folks who thought in the latter days of the Clinton-Gore administration that things were turning around for the better in terms of public land managers finally addressing the national crisis in off-road vehicle management on our public lands, requiring vehicle route designation and rangeland reform, as well as requiring forward planning for true biodiveristy protection and global warming implications were shocked with the reversal of all environmental progress with the advent of the Bush administration. Vice President Gore’s Hammer Program requiring increased government efficiency and accountability was replaced with a fraudulent program of how to ensure all subsidized uses continue with lessened restrictions under the guise of “collaboration” and “voluntary conservation”. Even where discovered truths, sound science, established law and public opinion speak otherwise. respond |
| right on by janice at 2005/09/12 21:00:53 GMT-6 |
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| thanks for writing this …I’m an email friend of a person who works for the BLM and she has every reason to fear for her safety.This just has to stop!
Kindest Regards and Prayers. |
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| Marlene Braun’s Death by Kathy R. at 2005/09/23 11:30:39 GMT-6 |
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| Marlene had many friends all across the country – some of us are only now learning of her death and are completely devastated by this tragic loss that happened months ago. I went to graduate school with Marlene back in the late 1980s early 1990s and kept in pretty good contact with her since that time. No one has mentioned that Marlene was an excellent scientist and the research she did on nitrates in the Santa Ana River watershed was invaluable to understanding sources of nitrates in the river and to the state’s regulation of water quality in this region. Marlene’s areas of expertise were numerous and broad, and I have no doubt that these qualities mader her an excellent land manager. She had the most down-to-earth, midwestern friendliness of anyone I’ve ever met, but was also an uncompromising idealist. I still can’t believe that she would take steps with such finality – her struggles with developing a management plan that was appropriate for the monument given the present BLM culture must have seemed to be hopeless to her in life; I hope and pray that through her death her vision for the monument can become a reality. Hers was an unfinished life that had the potential for so much more contribution, and her loss is absolutely tragic for the environmental resource community.
Finally, what else is there to say about Huntsinger? I concur with many of the other contributors – the actions taken against Marlene absolutely must be investigated! He appears to have set out on a personal vendetta against her when he learned about the negative comments she had made about him to the agency partners back in 2004, and systematically set out to get her fired as the result of that perceived personal affront. Whatever his personal feelings, it doesn’t appear that there were any attempts to work “with” Marlene, only “against” her. There must be accountability with her supervisor personally, and also with the state BLM officer who refused her appeal, even though she had letters supporting her position from the other agencies. |
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| Marlene by Brian at 2005/10/09 23:19:02 GMT-6 |
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| I had the opportunity of briefly meeting Marlene shortly after she had been appointed to her position at Carrizo. I was with a group doing volunteer work at the monument (removing barbed wire fences which hindered the movement of the newly transplanted antelope).
I was greatly impressed by Marlene. She was intelligent, enthusiastic, , very friendly, and obviously dedicated to her job. She seemed to me to be the ideal person for the job. When I heard the news of her suicide, I was deeply shocked. I would like to remind everyone that much of the land constituting the monument was paid for and donated by the Nature Conservancy. The land was intended to be conserved for it’s natural values. Conservancy members did not donate funds to that organization to subsidize cattle ranching. Carrizo was intended to be the one last sizeable reminant of the valley environment which exists nowhere else in California. I trust the Nature Conservancy will be enforcing it’s legal authority to protect the land it donated to the people of the United States. As for Marlene, one thing that I think we must learn from this tragedy is that one reason suicide happens is when people internalize their problems and direct their anxieties inward rather than dealing with the cause of their problems. Let’s all remember this as we fight for Carrizo and America’s environment. My sympathies to Marlene’s family and friends. |
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| Marlene Braun suicide by Delilah Hart at 2006/02/28 10:41:55 US/Mountain |
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| I found out about Marlene Braun’s suicide from an anti-bullying website.Unfortunately,especially in this country, not enough attention is paid to the issue of bullying, whether it be in the schoolyard or in the workplace.Also unfortunately, some workplaces, especially bureaucracies like the one where Marlene worked, actually encouraging bullying behaviors.Maybe if more attention is brought to bullying and its effects on its victims and if good legislation is passed, there will be fewer Marlene Brauns and fewer bosses like the one who led to her final, desperate act. respond |
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| BLM New Grazing Regs by Kathy at 2006/07/23 16:53:08 GMT-6 |
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| Readers please check the BLM website for the new grazing regulations released July 12, 2006 and due to go into effect next month, Aug.2006. They give the ranchers more control and the public much less say in the management of our public lands. Go to the BLM News Bytes site at: http://www.blm.gov/nhp/news/releases/pages/2006/pr060712_grazing.htm for the detailed report and to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13840825/ for information regarding the lawsuit filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council in response to the new regs.I personally am grateful to Marlene Braun for trying to let the science determine when grazing was appropriate and not a powerful interest group with a financial conflict of interest. I wish our representatives shared this strength of character. Please write them and urge them to manage our public lands as dictated by science and not the almighty dollar. respond |
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| BLM Job Open by Never Lose Hope in Justice at 2006/10/15 06:24:51 GMT-6 |
| Word has it that Jim Abbott, the Associate State Director for California BLM, is retiring in December. His job has been advertised. He will probably go out with a golden handshake, but he will go out. He is the man responsible for upholding Marlene’s suspension, despite the ridiculous pretense on which the suspension was brought by Huntsinger in the first place. Abbott stood by while Huntsinger brow beat Marlene.
I hope (perhaps against hope) that someone with integrity will replace him, if that is even possible in this administration. People with integrity, please apply! Heaven knows the State Office could use it. (I wonder if “henchman” and “hatchetman” are in the job description?) |
Filed under: Department of Interior/BLM, Marlene's Stewardship, Ron Huntsinger
I couldn’t read all these, but I was struck by Huntsinger’s superior who clearly regretted helping him advance. I just don’t believe Salazar will change much in the BLM, but surely Mr. H must be ready to retire soon.
I’m curious how Mr. Abbott could be put into a position of such power after causing havoc with employees in the Palm Springs Field Office?
I’m curious how Mr. Abbott could ignore independent thought of his Field Office and Monument Managers?
I’m curious how Mr. Abbott can remain in power after loosing many EEO cases and even telling the judge that the decision wrong?
I’m curious how Mr. Abbott can justify advertising and filling a Field Officer Manager position while the position was still held by the current Field Manager who was on a detail?
I’m curious why the leadership of the BLM has not been able to understand the many wrongs caused by Mr. Abbott?
Is there anyone out there listening?
All roads in BLM – CA lead to Mr. Abbott.
Did you know that the CA BLM State Office failed an OPM Audit because of questionable hiring/employment practices. Guess who? Mr. Abbott had been conducting business his way. An HR Staff Specialist from OPM was hired to help straighten some of the business practices out. Word on the street has it that this person was not able to move forward with corrections because all ideas had to pass through Mr. Abbott to implement. None of the corrective ideas where implemented and person from OPM lost all momentum and energy. The person waited out the last few years of time and retired. It is really ashame that individuals have to be bullied like this person was.