Durham City Council calls for healing as allegations of physical altercation surface
The Durham City Council declined to censure one of its own for alleged ethics violations Monday night, instead calling for healing after simmering tensions erupted publicly last month.
“I would ask all Durham residents to stay focused on the issues that face us ... crime, affordable housing and the rapid growth of our city, to name a few,” Mayor Elaine O’Neal said.
Some council members had requested to vote on whether to censure member Monique Holsey-Hyman. The council member is accused of improperly involving city staff in campaign work, allegations that first surfaced publicly at the City Council’s last meeting on March 23.
It was also revealed during that work session that Holsey-Hyman is accused of extorting a developer for a campaign donation in exchange for a yes-vote on a project. The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating that matter.
Council member Jillian Johnson wrote a censure resolution before the March 23 meeting that focuses on the campaign-related accusations.
It was not added to Monday night’s agenda or brought up during the meeting.
Tensions between council members have been high since the March 23 meeting. An argument between council member DeDreana Freeman and Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton broke out seconds after the meeting ended. While the argument took place behind closed doors, the shouting could be heard in council chambers.
Monday, O’Neal said leaders would “continue to stay focused and move our city forward.” She asked residents and the community to “allow law enforcement to do its job,” adding that she would not publicly address the allegations against Holsey-Hyman until the SBI investigation concludes.
“I would ask you all to do the same,” she said.
Opinions change on censure
Johnson said she did not know why the censure didn’t come to a vote Monday night.
“I am not in charge of this body,” she told The News & Observer.
But it seemed the resolution had started to lose the majority’s support before Monday’s meeting started.
“I just think for the sake of the city, it would be better just to move on,” Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton told The N&O.
Council member Leonardo Williams agreed.
“I will not add insult to injury on this Council’s dignity,” he said in an interview Monday afternoon. “I really hope that we can get back to governing.”
The city has not released any records about any of the allegations Holsey-Hyman faces.
Holsey-Hyman hasn’t responded to requests for comment. During the March 23 meeting, she characterized the incidents as misunderstandings based on being new to the job.
She is the newest member of the council, appointed to her seat in May. She said last month that she will run for election this year. The term would be four years.
Council argument escalates
The allegations against Holsey-Hyman sharply divided the council along familiar lines, with O’Neal and council member DeDreana Freeman vocally supporting her at the March 23 meeting.
An argument between Freeman and Middleton, who frequently disagree, broke out seconds after the March 23 meeting ended and quickly escalated into shouting.
Freeman, in defending Holsey-Hyman, accused Middleton of bullying Black women. Middleton rejected the charge, and several other council members came to his defense.
INDY Week, citing an anonymous source, reported Monday that Freeman hit O’Neal and Williams as she tried to punch Middleton. Both O’Neal and Williams entered the room after the yelling began in an attempt to deescalate the situation.
“I’m so (expletive) done with you,” Freeman told Middleton. “This is how you treat Black women.”
“She (Holsey-Hyman) listens to you,” Middleton said.
“She can speak for her (expletive) self,” Freeman said. “I’m done with this (expletive).”
“Get off me,” Freeman cried out several times.
Middleton told The N&O that Freeman’s “Get off me” statement was not directed at him.
“She wasn’t talking to me. She was talking to the people that were holding her back from trying to get me,” Middleton said in an interview Monday. “At no point did I touch her ... Even when I was being swung on, I didn’t assume a defensive posture. I didn’t return blows. I retreated until I couldn’t retreat any further.”
Williams told The N&O that Freeman was directing the comment to him.
“She was talking to me, because I did stand in between them,” Williams said, declining to discuss the incident further.
Middleton said he and Freeman haven’t spoken since the incident.
Freeman declined to answer questions Monday. O’Neal did not respond to The N&O’s request for comment.
Hope for healing
The city is also wrestling with the death of its budget director, John Allore, who was killed while riding his bike last week.
“Those who knew John knew him as a dedicated and passionate public servant and loving father of three daughters,” City Manager Wanda Page said Monday. “We also appreciated John’s many talents and interests, as he was a celebrated author, a podcaster and an avid biker.”
Several council members told The N&O they’d like to put the division behind them to properly grieve Allore and focus on the jobs they were elected to perform.
Middleton addressed his colleagues at the beginning of Monday’s meeting.
“Let us get back to work. Let us move forward,” he said.
This story was originally published April 3, 2023 at 9:06 PM.
