The following is a statement from Lorraine A. Stokes sent to 13News. The statement appears in its entirety.
July 2, 2010
Dear Citizens of Portsmouth and the General Public:
There has been much speculation and misjudgment surrounding the efforts to recall Mayor Holley. It would appear that this effort stems solely from the infamous “list” siphoned from his former assistant, but that’s not the case.
How do I know? I AM that assistant. Until now, I’ve declined interviews and no one has heard my story so the facts have been blurred and inconclusive. I’ve suffered in silence way too long while being judged in a court of public opinion. So, in an effort to assist the public in making a more informed decision on July 13th, I submit the following:
I highly respected Mayor Holley for his past accomplishments. I still feel privileged and blessed to have been in the mayor’s company as he shared sometimes personal and profound stories with me that will be branded in my mind for years to come. Stories of his meetings with diplomats and dignitaries, domestic and international travels, his direct involvement in civil rights movements, new opportunities afforded us at his hand and of the ongoing renaissance. I’ve seen tons of photos and articles, awards and citations that underscored his awesome political resume. I’ve heard him recite dates and events like the running tabulations of an adding machine. I have learned to decipher his many adjectorical descriptions of distinguished individuals whose names he either fumbled over or simply forgot. I’ve scheduled and seen him attend as many as eight back-to-back meetings and events on a given day, by choice – with just enough time for a bathroom break in between. In amazement, I’ve watched him do all this while dismissing his own ailments and denying his limitations.
But then I’ve seen another side. A side that only a select, and in some cases, unfortunate few are privy to. I’ve seen him very needy and feeble. I’ve witnessed the frequent slurring of speech and forgetfulness. I‘ve seen him stumble and pause with disorientation and discombobulation. I’ve heard the arrogant and other times broken speeches and I’ve seen the frozen thoughts. I’ve witnessed him ramble and ramble and ramble on – often losing his place, sometimes ending up in Timbuktu. I’ve known him to lose proclamations, get lost driving right here in the City and habitually attend scheduled events later than late. I’ve witnessed, all too often, his transformation from Mr. McGoo to Tazmanian Devil in a matter of minutes.
I’ve dodged his bullets then caught his praise all in the same breath. I’ve been the recipient of his rare kindness and the target of his wrath. As my performance reviews show, I was impeccable when it came to performing the duties I was hired to do. Mayor Holley stated on a number of occasions that his personal tasks took priority over City business – and made it quite clear, with threats and intimidation, that I should view them the same. After expressing a desire to meet with him in reference to the verbal abuse and open humiliation I suffered at his hands in front of city appointees and employees, he said “if you have a problem with it, then QUIT, you chicken! I am going to burn you out like I did the rest of them.” The extent of the abuse escalated to the point where the mayor literally pointed objects in my face and threatened to use his political clout to influence my firing and said “who do you think they are going to believe, a NOBODY like you or the mayor?” But as tears flowed down my face, I pressed on. Every day I had to will my body and spirit to build up a defense against his attacks and although there were days when I rolled with the punches, there were many, many other days when the attacks broke me…and in my brokenness, I cried. You see, it wasn’t just about the personal chores as one was led to think, a courtesy that I’ve done for past employers without complaint. It was a much bigger problem.
The public said “if it was that bad why didn’t you quit, why didn’t you leave as past assistants had done?” To you I say quitting is not always the answer. I felt honored to work in the mayor’s office and I wanted to stay there so I cried out for help over and over again and was told to “just keep him happy.” I needed my job. I am a young widow with the burden of providing for my family resting squarely on my shoulders. The City hired me to do a job that I did very well. Why, then, should I be punished because this ongoing pattern of abuse was allowed to continue? Why should I be labeled because someone else chose to expose him? Why is it that the community has rallied support for the perpetrator and not the victim?
Contrarily, this type of behavior and hostility is not an entitlement. It is immoral, inappropriate, unethical and a deliberate abuse of power. The mayor should own up to his wrongdoings and the City should take full responsibility for protecting its employees from this type of abuse. Thus, it is obligatory that the City sends a strong message to its employees and to the public that such behavior in the workplace will no longer be tolerated from its supervisors, appointees or its elected officials.
Even as such, it was never my intention or desire to bring open humiliation to or make a public spectacle of the mayor. Neither was it my desire to have him removed from office. I just wanted him to stop bullying and degrading me. City Council stated that ”this extended pattern of abusive conduct…is only the latest one in a continuing pattern of conduct that has caused the departure of several prior employees.” This statement (and other statements from past managers and assistants) underscores the fact that this is a perpetual problem that has gone unresolved for years. I want to put this matter behind me but I am forced to face it every day. Every news report, public comment, article and citizen wishing to discuss this matter, not knowing that I am that assistant, keeps the pain of my experience fresh. I was left unprotected, I was betrayed and, in someone’s desire to further their own motives, the mayor and the City were exposed.
Consequently, there comes a time when we have to give an account for our actions. Judgment day is July 13, 2010 and judgment lies within the hands of the fine citizens of Portsmouth.
To his supporters (of whom I was once a part): to keep Mayor Holley at the helm would be doing a grave injustice to him, to assistants/secretaries all over the world and to the fine citizens of this great city. Since he won’t, please help him help himself – not with malice but out of shear concern for his well-being. You see, I’m not confused. I’m just intelligent enough to know that no amount of abuse and degradation received at his hands will ever erase his past accomplishments, but with this same acknowledgement, I also bear the burden of forgiveness and the pain of the scars that I now carry. These are the facts, now the burden is upon the City and its citizens to do justly.
Lorraine A. Stokes
