Former La Crosse council member says he’s a sexual harassment victim in Florida political scandal

A sexual harassment claim filed in Florida, by a man who used to serve on La Crosse’s city council, has led to a government scandal making headlines across the country.

Shane Crawford attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse two decades ago and sat as a student member of both the city council and county board.

Months ago, Crawford complained to an ethics commission in Florida, where he was serving as the city manager of Madeira Beach.

Crawford charged that he had been groped and licked on the face by a female city official named Nancy Oakley.

Last year, Oakley and other officials in the city voted to suspend Crawford, who said he resigned before he could be fired for making the complaint.

Earlier this month, it was Oakley who was reprimanded by a city commission, before she resigned.

Crawford says years ago, at a public event, Oakley was drunk when she went up and licked him in the presence of his future wife.

Crawford says his wife also lost her city job as a result of the controversy, after Oakley allegedly tried to punch her.

Crawford resigned last year and now works in private business. 

On 95.7 the Rock in La Crosse Crawford said the controversy is “one of the craziest things that’s ever happened” to him.

A Florida state commission on ethics found that Oakley violated ethics rules.