Former mayor to settle sexual harassment lawsuit?

PORT CLINTON — Port Clinton's former mayor will soon face the woman accusing him of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment.Former city administrative assistant Jen Porter sued Vince Leone, the former mayor, and former safety service director Tracy Colston after the pair fired her in 2015.Before her termination, Porter alleges Leone directed vulgar and sexual comments at her several times and contends Colston let it happen, according to the lawsuit."If you want to ask me have I ever told her to go f--- herself before, yes, I have," Leone said during his deposition in the county common pleas court case.Specifically, the city, Leone and Colston were liable for sexual harassment, gender discrimination, retaliation and aiding and abetting.The three will meet for a settlement hearing Monday at the courthouse.Judge Bruce Winters this week dismissed two of the allegations against Leone and Colston because they're no longer Porter's employers. Leone was turned out of office by voters in 2015. Colston is no longer the city's safety-service director.The other allegations against the pair, which include retaliation and aiding and abetting, are still on the table. The city also could still be on the hook if Porter proves her case at trial.Whether the two sides can agree on a settlement, or the status of any settlement talks, are both unknown. It's also not known if details of a settlement, if one is reached, will be available for the public to read. But, given the national attention to sexual harassment claims in recent weeks, it could prove difficult to keep settlement details hidden from the public.This fall, millions of people joined the "me too" campaign, which called on anyone who's been sexually exploited or harassed to share their story on social media by posting about it on social media using the #MeToo hashtag.The campaign was inspired by actress Alyssa Milano and came on the heels of sexual misconduct claims against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Dozens of accusers claim Weinstein exploited them throughout his long career.Reach reporter Patrick Pfanner at pfanner@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @PatPfanner and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterMayor Vince Leone, on 'Between the Lines," Oct. 26, 2015.