Richard Hathaway
Hathaway comes from a family with deep ties to the Wayne County legal system. Several members of his family have served on the Wayne County Circuit Court, including judges James A. Hathaway, Cynthia Gray Hathaway, Dana Hathaway, Michael Hathaway, and Daniel Hathaway.[1] He is the former spouse of former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Diane Hathaway, who was sentenced to federal prison in 2013 for bank fraud, though the charges did not involve her former husband.[1]
In 1980, at age 31, Hathaway was elected to Detroit Recorder's Court while serving as an assistant Wayne County prosecutor.[2] In 1984, he was elected to the Wayne County Circuit Court.[2] He would go on to serve as a county judge for nearly 25 years.[1] In 2004, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy selected Hathaway to serve as her chief assistant at the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.[3] He held this position until late 2015.
County Treasurer
In December 2015, Hathaway was appointed Wayne County Treasurer, becoming the county's first new treasurer in 39 years.[1] However, his tenure was brief - he resigned in March 2016 after only three months in the position, citing "personal family matters".[1] The position paid approximately $116,000 annually.[1]
In February 2016, while serving as Wayne County Treasurer, Richard Hathaway made a controversial hiring decision that would later become part of a larger nepotism scandal in Wayne County government. He hired Renata Seals-Evans, then-girlfriend (later wife) of Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, as a $60,000 contractor despite her lacking government experience or a college degree.[4] This hiring later came under media scrutiny, though Hathaway had resigned from his position before the controversy became public.[5]
Timeline of Events
- February 2016: Hathaway hires Seals-Evans as a $60,000 contractor[5]
- March 2016: Hathaway resigns as Treasurer citing "personal family matters"[6]
- October 2016: New Treasurer Eric Sabree promotes Seals-Evans to full-time position at $70,000[7]
- December 2016: Warren Evans and Seals-Evans marry[5]
- May 2017: Following media investigations, Seals-Evans resigns.[5]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Charles E. Ramirez, Christine MacDonald, Joel Kurth, "Wayne Co. Treasurer Hathaway resigns - 'Family matters' are cited for him leaving after 3 months," Detroit News, March 5, 2016, page A9, News Section.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "18 Detroit lawyers seek 3 Recorder's judgeships," Detroit News, August 3, 1980, page 57.
- ↑ "People on the Move," Detroit News, July 4, 2004, page 02B, Business Section.
- ↑ Ross Jones, "Warren Evans' wife advances in gov't job despite no gov't experience," WXYZ Detroit, May 18, 2017.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Candice Williams, "County exec's wife resigns from job - Questions raised over qualifications for position in office," Detroit News, May 24, 2017, page A4, News Section.
- ↑ "Wayne Co. Treasurer Hathaway resigns - 'Family matters' are cited for him leaving after 3 months," Detroit News, March 5, 2016, page A9
- ↑ County exec's wife resigns from job - Questions raised over qualifications for position in office," Detroit News, May 24, 2017, page A4