Ex-state lawmaker, accused of sexual harassment, denied spot on Raleigh arts board
Raleigh leaders decided Tuesday not to appoint a former state lawmaker accused of sexual harassment to a city advisory board.
Duane Hall, a former three-term Democratic legislator in the N.C. House of Representatives, was nominated for the city’s Arts Commission by Raleigh City Council member Corey Branch and Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin.
He received just three votes from the council’s eight members, from Branch, Baldwin and Council member Patrick Buffkin.
Hall, who lost his re-election bid in 2018, was accused of sexual harassment and kissing two women without their consent, according to N.C. Policy Watch.
In a 2018 interview, Hall said he did kiss one of the women but he denied the other allegations and challenged the idea he sexually harassed anyone, The News & Observer reported. Many prominent Democrats, including Gov. Roy Cooper, called on Hall to resign at the time.
Council members did not comment on the vote, and Hall was not at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
The N&O left a message for Hall on Monday afternoon at the phone number listed on his Arts Commission application, but it was not returned. Baldwin did not respond to a text message from The N&O.
‘A second chance’
Branch said he’s known Hall for several years and that he expressed interest in serving on the board.
“There was nothing more to it,” he said. “But it’s interesting how we have people out here who advocate we give people a second chance. And you give someone something on the art commission and no one wants to give them a chance.”
The allegations were about incidents from 2016, Branch said. At what point “do you try to work with people?” he asked.
“I mean do we need to do a background check on everyone who has been nominated?” Branch said. “Pretty sure we will find something on somebody.”
‘None of the above’
Hall’s nomination was criticized in a local politics Facebook group that also has been critical of Baldwin and the current City Council majority.
Council member David Cox also addressed the nomination on social media.
“Before every council meeting we on council receive a link to a ballot to vote on nominees to boards and commissions,” Cox wrote Monday on Facebook. “How each Council member voted is typically not announced at the Council meeting. But for tomorrow I wanted to be clear about how I at least voted.”
The photos Cox shared shows he selected “none of the above” for the Arts Commission section.
The Arts Commission is the city’s resident board focused on public art and makes recommendations for arts-related grant funding from the city.
This story was originally published November 1, 2022 at 9:02 AM.
