"It threatens to expose the whole cronyism problem that exists in Salt Lake County," Republican County Councilman Russell Skousen said Friday.

The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, led by Democrat David Yocom, wants to keep sealed a report into allegations of sexual harassment by former Chief Deputy Clerk Nick Floros, also a Democrat.

Some county leaders say the document could reveal a litany of harassment allegations against Floros.

"It's not just the activities of Nick Floros that make me mad," said Democratic County Councilman Jim Bradley. "What really makes me angry is that he got away with it for years. It may be that the good ol' boy network protected him."

Floros retired nearly a year ago after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced. Marcia Rice, who is on administrative leave from the Clerk's Office, sued Salt Lake County in October, listing 39 allegations of sexual harassment against Floros.

The County Council will hear an appeal Tuesday by the Deseret Morning News, which is seeking to make the investigative report public under the Government Records Access and Management Act.

Earlier this year, The Salt Lake Tribune quoted former county employees Shaunna Sandersfeld and Dena Savas, both of whom said they had left their positions in the 1980s because of Floros. Both said they had been questioned during the recent investigation.

The Tribune interviewed a third woman this week who had worked for Floros and filed a complaint against him. The woman, who continues to work for the county and did not want to be identified, said that for several decades Floros continued to enjoy high positions in county government while those who complained about him were transferred.

Salt Lake City attorney Ralph Chamness, representing Rice, said that while he has not seen the county's investigative report, his firm did interview women who worked with Floros the past 2 1/2 decades.

"They support my client's claims," Chamness said. "Mr. Floros' behavior was well-known."

Chamness said the report will come out during legal proceedings.

"The county says it has done everything right," he said of the internal process that led to Floros' retirement and an internal investigation of Rice's allegations. "They won't be able to defend that position without releasing the report."

But if the county settles the Rice case, the report may never become public.

The District Attorney's Office is fighting the release, said Deputy District Attorney Valerie Wilde, adding that not even the County Council should be privy to the contents.

Wilde promised a court fight if the council votes to review the document before deciding whether to make it public.

Democratic Councilman Joe Hatch brushed aside the contention that Democrats were attempting to protect one of their own, saying the district attorney has acted properly in the case.

"This isn't partisan. The Republicans want to make it partisan," Hatch said. "What happened is exactly what you want to have happen. The alleged perpetrator is gone. The alleged victim is on paid administrative leave."

County officials must protect the process so that victims and witnesses can come forward without fear that their names and accusations will be released, Hatch said.

Hatch has recused himself from considering the release of the report. Fellow Democrats Randy Horiuchi and Bradley said they, too, would consider recusing themselves.

County Clerk Sherrie Swensen - Floros' immediate supervisor - said she was shocked by allegations of sexual harassment in her office. "It was devastating for everyone."

Swensen, a Democrat, said she was unaware of any complaints against Floros until the county's Personnel Department informed her that Rice had filed a complaint.

"Despite my numerous conversations with Ms. Rice, she never complained to me about it," Swensen said. "I would have acted immediately."

csmart@sltrib.com