Jessica Dixon Heitman said she worked for then-state Rep. Harry Benton as an independent contractor in his office from January 2023 to May 2023.
“The reason that my stint was so short was that very soon after I started working for him, I realized it was not a good fit,” said Dixon Heitman in an exclusive interview with Farmers Weekly Review.
Ironically, she recently was appointed by Democrat leaders in the 97th House District to fill the vacancy left by Benton who resigned under pressure due to allegations of sexual impropriety. She will face Republican Gabby Shanahan, whom Benton narrowly defeated two years ago, on the November 3rd ballot.
“There were a lot of red flags,” she said of working in Benton’s office. “And I felt like there was not really much focus on the district and getting things done. It was definitely disheartening, because I was very enthusiastic about some changes happening.
“And unfortunately, it seemed like his attention was more focused on other things versus the betterment of the district and the community.”
Pressed further on those red flags, Dixon Heitman said she saw Benton’s inappropriate behavior with one of his staffers.
“She was very young. She was very scared, and instead of focusing on myself, my whole entire focus was protecting her and being a support system to her. She was very opposed to filing any sort of report, which I can understand. I mean, if you ask any woman anywhere in the course of her life, if she has been in a situation like this, it’s a resounding, yes, usually multiple times.
“And more often than not, reporting doesn’t do anything. So her mindset was, ‘OK, I’m gonna report this, and then I’m gonna be blacklisted.’ And I feel for her; I still check in with her, and she has a brilliant mind.
“And she will never come back to the political arena, because of her experience. That is very unfortunate. We really lost someone that could have done incredible things.”
- My Two Cents - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 9:57 am:
Her responses with the misconduct don’t sit well with me.
I understand the victim did not want to report anything, but she still had the knowledge of these events as well as observing other ” red flags”.
Why not initiate a complaint with the IG and remain anonymous if you wanted to?
- VK - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 10:17 am:
“Why didn’t…..” “Why wouldn’t….” “What would….”
Better question! Why are we entertaining these intrusive thoughts about either of the women in this narrative as valid, interesting, or worthy of consideration? Cause that doesn’t answer the question; who exactly was all this supposed to be told to? Who would have changed the outcome? Not just some random made up strawman that you hope exists within the oversight process of the House. The actual human who could have broken through the logjam of guilty behaving men.
Because, the dude in charge of deciding what happened at both the in district and statehouse levels was the person doing the thing and the person covering the thing up.
What magical christmasland are you all living in where this doesn’t come to land at the speakers feet? He knew that it was happening. His CoS knew it was happening. He is man in charge of making sure the House is in order. It’s his actual factual job.
It is maddening to watch the actual problem being ignored because “oh well the person who was having the bad time didn’t respond the way I would have from this incredibly comfortable vantage point I have where nothing is happening to me and I’m just looking into the past”.
Am I taking crazy pills? I feel like I’m trapped in a loop where we just have the same conversation about a speaker protecting a unsavory member. Is it 2021 again? Are we all back in quarantine?
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 10:20 am:
More red flags. More bread crumbs suggesting that there is more to the story.
- Concerned Citizen - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 10:45 am:
So, you saw something and didn’t report it yourself and the district is just supposed to believe your the right candidate for the job now? That’s not leadership, that’s fear and that’s why you are NOT the right person for the job.
- levivoted4judy - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 10:58 am:
I had hoped this behavior would have been stopped. I guess it is at least being recognized more. Most of us veterans of the state house know how this has been going on for decades. I remember I had an unofficial job as the bodyguard for two of my female colleagues who were legislative liasons during the session, after-hours networking. It’s time to take this very seriously and have significantly more urgency.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 11:26 am:
===Why not initiate a complaint with the IG and remain anonymous if you wanted to? ===
Because the alleged victim did not want her to and doing so anyway would be unethical.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 11:37 am:
===Why are we ===
=== are you all living in===
=== we just have the same conversation===
Precisely one person commented before you. Please do not trash everyone here because you disagree with a minority viewpoint.
If you have a beef with a specific commenter, call that person out.
Thanks.
- VK - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 11:59 am:
….If you have a beef with a specific commenter, call that person out….
You’re right. That was a broad brush and I apologize. There are a significant number of people who are also asking, what I believe, to be the right questions.
I projected my frustration out to everyone and that is no way to make an argument. That’s my bad.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 12:18 pm:
Thanks, VK. Much appreciated.
- VK - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 12:30 pm:
XOXO
- Google is Your Friend - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 2:58 pm:
==- My Two Cents - Wednesday, Jul 22, 26 @ 9:57 am:==
There’s no such thing as anonymous if there is an incident with a victim, an offender, and a witness. Somebody talked and two of three parties will know they didn’t.