Butler County Commissioner Jim Eckstein on Wednesday accused another elected official of threatening legal action to prevent him from scrutinizing her travel expenses.

At the commissioners meeting, Eckstein said Judy Moser, register of wills/clerk of orphans’ court, is trying to intimidate him.

“She plays a gender card,” he said.

Eckstein referred to a Feb. 20 letter from Moser’s solicitor, Leo Stepanian Sr., in which the commissioner’s motives were questioned.

According to the letter, “I can only assume your attack on Ms. Moser is gender-based, politically motivated and is an attempt to generate publicity because it certainly is not based upon the facts or the law.”

Eckstein refuted that his desire for Moser to stay at cheaper hotels on conference trips is related to any bias.

“The law doesn’t say you have to go to the Hilton,” he said.

Eckstein is questioning why Moser already scheduled nine trips that exceed the total $2,500 budgeted for her office in 2013.

He said the total amount is actually $2,610, counting travel, gas, lodging, food and parking tolls.

Eckstein estimated Moser would save $750 on those trips by staying at a cheaper hotel 18 miles from the meeting site. He told her about another hotel, which is four miles from the Hilton, that also would save money.

Moser was unavailable for comment.

Stepanian said in an interview that his letter wasn’t an intimidation tactic.

“It wasn’t meant to be a threat,” he said. “It was pointing out how ignorant he (Eckstein) is.”

Eckstein disagreed.

“I guess it’s a veiled threat,” he said.

Stepanian stressed the letter was not threatening a legal complaint.

“Certainly not, unless facts warrant it sometime in the future,” he said. “If I wanted to threaten legal action, I would have stated it in the letter.”

However, Stepanian said gender is an issue.

“Gender-based certainly has grounds based on his past actions,” he said.

Eckstein faces a sexual discrimination complaint filed internally by an employee whose name has not been disclosed.

The Pittsburgh law firm Thomas, Thomas & Hafer is investigating that claim.

The county in December settled a prior sexual discrimination complaint filed last year with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by Joyce Ainsworth, director of county Children and Youth Services.

Under the settlement, which Eckstein opposed, the commissioners were required to attend training covering such topics as bullying in the workplace and to issue a public statement of support for Ainsworth.

The county paid Butler County Community College $1,000 to conduct six hours of training, which is completed.

Eckstein maintains he’s innocent of any discrimination. He pointed to numerous cases in which his criticism was aimed at male officials.

Stepanian stated in the letter that Eckstein’s e-mails, memos and notations on travel request forms were derogatory.

According to the letter, “Once again, you have exhibited your disdain for intelligent females in positions of leadership or power.”

Eckstein insisted the claim of gender bias is unfounded.

“That is hogwash,” he said. “I think the public should know what is going on.”

Stepanian said Eckstein should be reviewing larger expenses than trying to save a few dollars in travel costs.

In the letter, Stepanian stated Moser has saved taxpayers money by attending meetings of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Elected Officials.

According to Stepanian, Moser’s direct involvement prevented the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania from imposing a 6 percent sales tax on all documents accessed from county courthouses.

The letter states the association of elected officials coined the final state legislation stopping the tax as “Judy’s Bill.”

Stepanian cited 10 other accomplishments resulting from Moser traveling to Harrisburg, including working with the state Supreme Court and the state Department of Aging.

Eckstein also criticized trips scheduled for three district judges to the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Fayette County, and for two public defenders to Harrisburg.

He lauded county human services and county probation for saving money on their trips.

Commissioner Bill McCarrier, chairman of the commissioners, defended the trips taken by Moser, the judges and others, pointing out the county doesn’t select where they’re held.

Commissioner Dale Pinkerton stressed the information learned at these meetings benefit the county.

County Controller Jack McMillin said the cost of some county trips have been excessive in the past, but there are no overall problems with county travel policy and with the practice of most county officials and employees.

McMillin reiterated his support for staff development.

McCarrier said the costs of Eckstein’s legal issues, such as the BC3 training and the up to $5,000 to be paid to Thomas, Thomas & Hafer, exceed amounts that could be saved by staying at cheaper hotels.

Eckstein blamed McCarrier and Pinkerton for those costs, stating he didn’t want to resolve the complaints in those manners.

“I didn’t tell them to spend $4,000,” Eckstein said.

He said the training didn’t have to be commissioners’ six hours and the internal complaint could have been investigated by county staff.