Former Salina mayor Alan Jilka said allegations of sexual harassment contained in a federal lawsuit filed two weeks ago by the former Salina Housing Authority director are “politically motivated retaliation” because of his efforts to bring accountability to the housing authority.

But he disclosed that Ann Rollins Johnson, who was fired by the housing authority board in January 2008, had accused him of sexual harassment more than two years ago.

“I was first threatened with the recently filed lawsuit by Ms. Rollins’ lawyer in September of 2007,” Jilka said in a prepared statement Thursday morning. “Is it a coincidence that she waited to file the suit until more than two years later, a couple weeks after I announced my candidacy for Congress, and several years after the alleged incidents?”

Jilka is running for the U.S. House of Representatives seat being vacated by Rep. Jerry Moran, who is running for the U.S. Senate.

“I was shocked by the malicious nature of the allegations in the case, which I deny,” Jilka said.

Click play to view video of full press conference.

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Reader says....
Alan Jilka waved around those back copies of the Salina Journal like they were his campaign flag. I was befuddled why an innocent man would be in possession of back issues of the paper. If he is innocent, he would have pitched the papers as they had nothing to do with him. Instead, he hailed them like a badge of courage or a souvenir taken from a victim. Curious indeed.
11/6/2009

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Questions, Questions says....
I also was uncomfortable with Jilka's press conference demeanor. One Journal photo shows him exiting with a broad smile on his face. Creepy.
11/6/2009

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Huh? says....
I don't know if Ann Rollins-Johnson was harassed or not. I sincerely hope she thought long and hard about bringing these allegations because if they are false she truly is doing a disservice to victims of sexual harassment. I do know a contract was awarded to her future step-son, and then she told the board members who he was. That could be considered nepotism at it's finest. Two wrongs don't make a right.
11/6/2009

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Livin The Life Now says....
I am an advanced degree educated female who was repeatedly sexually harrassed right here in good ol boy Salina. I asked my aggressor to please stop, I endlessly begged my supervisor to make it stop, and I was repeatedly told to "get over it, he's more powerful than God". The harrassment continued and I was eventually mauled by my aggressor one night on my out of my place of employment. I did not ask for it, nor did I think it was a "compliment" to be treated that way. Needless to say, I had a great lawyer who advocated tirelessly for my case and we won!! My aggressor, er, um "God", settled out of court for with a HUGE financial outcome to keep this quiet! I NEVER have to work another day in my life! And.....life is good!! Keep your chin up Ann! The truth will prevail and you will make it through this nightmare!!
11/6/2009

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Sickened says....
Alan Jilka: Just exactly WHO do you think you are speaking toward all women as you do? Please....you really THINK that we all want to jump into bed with you?! Take a course in respect for women!
11/6/2009

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says....
Good Luck Ann. Alan - stop embrassing this town and yourself.
11/6/2009

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blame yourself says....
"Chuckwagon": I have never been so offended in my life. You are breeding a culture of rape with comments like these. "women are asking for it". Oh yea? Do we say men are asking to be raped every time they mow without their shirt on? That's ridiculous. You are the reason sexual harassment exists. Here's an example for you sir. I left church tonight (obviously dressed modestly), went to Dillons, and a car full of men drove by shouting "hey sexy", "come take a ride with us". The problem does not lie with the women. The problem lies in justifying men's crude actions like these.
11/6/2009

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distrubed says....
Why is Jilka laughing and smiling so much during this conference? Seems to me like he thinks this is all a joke. Is this disturbing to anyone else? If I was wrongly accused of sexual harassment I would be entirely too upset to laugh or smile at a press conference. Seems to me like Jilka is loving the attention. Somethings wrong here.
11/6/2009

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Vet says....
Why did Jilka have his comical news conference at Martinelli's and not Jilka Furniture? I laughed my butt off when I viewed it. "IF" he gets to Congress,my guess he won't get to 1st base,he better take a long course on news conference's because he just went down the Kohler convience on this one..........aaaahh the days of our lives in Salina,Ks. Since the city of Salina is a defendant in the lawsuit and Jilka loses or settles,is the taxpayers money going to pay for this $75,000.00 plus damages or are the people named in the lawsuit paying out of pocket?
11/1/2009

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Chuckwagon says....
Men and Boys of today have so conditioned to seeing the breast of women of all ages display ed for all to see by TV, Movies, etc. , that men think it is normal to look. That is what women want and then too wonder why all the sex crimes. Prostitutes dress and reveal themselves to attract men. What do women that reveal themselves expect? Come on Ladies use the Biblical example and dress modestly. Then men don't look and harassment and law suited disappear.
11/1/2009

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It's all good says....
Ya, Going To Be Rich!, and if I could sue every woman that ogled my buttocks! Get over it already. Someone is always going to be eye candy to someone else. Consider it a compliment and move on!
10/31/2009

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LOL says....
I say put them both in a room and let them leer at each other until they get it out of their system. When they both laugh together, you'll know they are friends again.
10/31/2009

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says....
Everyone should read the court docs that SALJOURNAL.COM links to this article. The letter from Justice Dept. says that the EEOC after reviewing her Ann's complaint did not choose to file a suit. I guess they found it meritless.
10/31/2009

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ally oop says....
There are 113 charges filed in the suit. The "leering" complaint is one incredibly small part of the big picture. You people need to GROW UP.
10/31/2009

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Going To Be Rich! says....
If I could sue every man who "leered" at my breasts, I would be a very rich woman... Thanks Ann Rollins, you may have given myself and other women an idea! Now lets talk about women who have leered at men's crotches..
10/30/2009

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CandyApples says....
The article says the lawsuit accuses Jilka of "leering" at her breasts. I'm unfamiliar with the legal definition of "leer"? Is it a stare with drool? Is it like an ogle? And she accuses him closing a door, my goodness gracious...the unmitigated fiend! Seems like someone thinks an awful lot of herself.
10/30/2009

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says....
Hey Survivor: You'd better read the suit. Says 2 other employees also complained to the city about sexual advances. The boyfriend/husband thing is WAY off base. You're really speaking out of line here.
10/30/2009

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says....
Where is the sexual harassment? Time will tell as the suit is played out but at this point it seems motivated by revenge at losing a job poorly performed and/or political sabotage. Rollins Johnson better have here ducks in order because if this does turn out to be a weak lawsuit she will have done a disservice to real victims of sexual harassment (male & female). Whatever the final outcome, the losing party needs to pay for their actions and that includes the plaintiff.
10/30/2009

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Harassment Survivor says....
I am a woman, I have experianced sexual harassment on the job, I did file suit, and I did win. There are women and men who have falsely accused others of sexual harassment. These kind of people are a insult to those who have suffered from the abuse. When I was abused, I did not wait around, it was so horrible, I had to leave my job. I have doubts in Ann's story because she stayed, I have doubts because no one else made any accusations, and I have doubts because as I recall, many, many people had been demanding Ann's termination for a long period of time before she was finally terminated. I wish I could recall the details, but did'nt she give a job to her then boyfriend/now husband and claim she did not know him? I do remember there were some strange goings on with her and bids that had been taken for the H.A. along with misconduct.
10/29/2009

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Jack Tripper says....
I think the only thing Alan Jilka is guilty of here is stealing Mr. Farley's tie.
10/29/2009

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for shame says....
We were asked by one respondent to think of what Ms. Rollins is going through. I have. I think she is enjoying it.
10/29/2009

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cactusjack says....
I beg to differ about women not coming forward unless it really happened. There has been many cases of this nature that have turned out being totally untrue. This is America people. Some people will do what it takes whether right or wrong to get ahead or to damage other people.
10/29/2009

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greenbough says....
Big city Republican lawyers in cahoots to get Jilka? I've never laughed so hard in my life!!
10/29/2009

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suzique says....
To Saddened: You are exactly right. Nearly ten years ago I attempted to file sexual harassment charges against a co-worker and two different lawyers wouldn't take my case because I wasn't "damaged" enough. Without damages, there's no suit. An attorney won't give you the time of day without proof of wrong doing. Johnson is obviously in the right and it's not the first or last time a politician has overstepped his boundaries.
10/29/2009

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wonderboy says....
Where there's smoke...there's fire.
10/29/2009

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says....
At today's press conference, not a single reported asked Jilka about the sexual complaints filed by other housing authority employees as read in the suit. Whaz up?
10/29/2009

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The truth will prevail... says....
What does Ms. Rollins actions on the board have to do with YOUR allegations of sexual harrasment?? I say get to the point and quit shifting the subject around.
10/29/2009

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Ann and Alan's bad sides are up front now says....
I think Ann an Alan should both take a look in the mirror. The Salina Journal is having a love fest with this news.
10/29/2009

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shylock says....
The first article says he knew nothing about this. Now he says it started two years ago. Why the change in attitude?
10/29/2009

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saddened sexual harrassment continues says....
You know women do not come forth with this type of allegation without it being true. Think of the what she is going through to bring forth this suit. Lawyers do not take this type of suit unless they have found that there was wrong-doing involved. There must be something to this.
10/29/2009

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fellow salina citizen says....
this fellow citizen has observed you in the community. you do not have my support...it will be interesting to see where the truth lies...
10/29/2009

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says....
The real truth is one Ann's side and others know it.
10/29/2009

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Whatever says....
He has known since 2007 that there was a possible law suit? This was prior to the firing in 2008, I'm doing the math and judging from this comment alone it seems that the time table is on Ann's side.
10/29/2009

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sketchy ... says....
Glad somone is speaking out. I am sure there will be more. What goes around comes around. You can never fully escape your past deeds. Good & Bad! Hope the comments get posted.. I searched for the first news breaking article and comments with no luck on finding it.
10/29/2009

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Matlock says....
I haven't read anything that meets the definition of "sexual harassment." I also don't think the plaintiff believes there is sufficient evidence of it either. Then again the heart of this case is revenge, not sexual harassment.
10/29/2009

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