Allegations Against Andraé Evans: Workplace Misconduct or Political Attack?
Irondequoit Town Supervisor Andraé Evans faces allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation, prompting a town board censure and a criminal investigation. However, some question whether the accusations are legitimate or part of a politically motivated effort to remove him, while others accuse the town board of overreacting.
In November 2024, the Irondequoit Town Board hired the law firm Nearpass & Koegel PLLC to investigate a misconduct complaint against Evans. The firm's 34-page report, released in January 2025, concluded that Evans likely violated the town's anti-harassment policies. The report cited allegations that Evans made inappropriate comments to a female employee, including remarks about her attire and comparisons to his wife.
The employee resigned in September 2024, citing a hostile work environment. The report also found that Evans' behavior toward the employee changed after she raised concerns, supporting claims of retaliation. However, the report did not definitively substantiate the sexual harassment claim.
After the report's release, the town board formally reprimanded Evans and called for his resignation. Board members also engaged new legal counsel, reviewed workplace policies, and established a special subcommittee—excluding Evans—to address workplace concerns. The board referred the case to the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office for a criminal investigation.
At a Thursday meeting, the town board unanimously voted to censure Evans, restricting his interactions with staff and requiring him to complete management and anti-harassment training.
Attorney Andrew Brown, of Brown & Hutchinson LLP and the town’s former legal counsel, has raised concerns about the investigation's integrity and the board's handling of the case. Brown, who resigned from his role, claimed the probe was politically motivated and aimed at ousting Evans.
"We were the town attorney, but when it came to the investigation, we were excluded," Brown told Minority Reporter. "There was no legitimate basis for that."
Brown also questioned the timing of the allegations, noting the report was released just days before town board member John Perticone announced his candidacy for supervisor. "Everything I saw around this was suspect," he said.
Brown further criticized the severity of the allegations, saying that in his 40 years as an employment attorney, he had not seen anything in the findings that warranted criminal charges. "The question arises: How was this funneled to the District Attorney’s Office, and who manipulated that?"
Another law firm, Bond Schoeneck & King, also raised concerns about the town board and special counsel’s actions, suggesting some may have been unlawful and violated due process, according to RochesterFirst.com.
Brown, whose firm has represented the town since mid-2024, disclosed that he had represented Evans in a minor discrimination case years earlier but argued that this did not disqualify his firm from working with the town.
"The town issued an RFP, we submitted a proposal, and we interviewed. We were selected based on the quality of our proposal and our experience and knowledge of town law," Brown said.
Evans has denied any wrongdoing, but the Irondequoit Democratic Committee has withdrawn its support for his re-election, endorsing Perticone instead. Perticone, who announced his candidacy for town supervisor days after the report’s release, currently serves on the town board and said he had been encouraged to run. "The events this year made me reconsider," he said.
Perticone has served on the town board since 2007 and previously sat on the town Planning Board.
The controversy has divided Irondequoit residents. Some argue the investigation was politically motivated and racially biased.
"This has all the markings of a political hit job," said resident and former Cornell University professor Douglas Knipple. "The report is replete with classic racist tropes regarding Black men in authority. The investigator selectively chose what to emphasize while ignoring key context, such as the accuser’s history of making similar allegations."
Others questioned why the issue was handled publicly rather than as an internal personnel matter.
"I worked for a global organization for 36 years, and these situations are always investigated internally under legal oversight," said resident Gail Hoins. "This does not seem as transparent as the board claims."
Daniel Mooney also criticized the board’s handling of the case. "Instead of following proper legal processes, the board circumvented due process and brought in a special counsel under questionable circumstances," he said. "If their intent is truly to serve the town and the law, they should correct this now."
However, others support the findings against Evans.
"It seems that trust between the board and the town supervisor is broken," said resident Maria Nicchitta. "As a community member, I stand with the town staff and the board, and I thank them for doing the right thing, despite the criticism they have received."
Evans has denied the allegations, calling them part of an orchestrated effort to remove him.
“I regret if any of my words were misinterpreted, but I did not harass or retaliate against anyone,” he said.
Despite the controversy, Evans remains committed to seeking another term.
"You know me. You see me. Character does not change," Evans said in a statement to the Irondequoit Democratic Committee. "I have been to war and witnessed its horrors. I grew up in the Jim Crow South and survived its injustices. These experiences taught me that there must be a better way than hate, deceit, and death. For 40 years I have carried or worn a placard with our national values: moral courage, personal courage, integrity, selfless service, respect, duty, loyalty, and honor."
As the situation unfolds, Irondequoit remains divided. Some believe the allegations warrant serious scrutiny, while others see them as a politically motivated attack. The coming months will determine Evans’ legal and political fate.
"What I’m witnessing right now is a brew—a brew of 'he said, she said,' and it’s boiling. But the aroma that’s coming off the brew is racism," said resident Robin Schneder Carlisle. "And I just want to ask the Town of Irondequoit to look a little deeper into their hearts."
Perticone offered a different perspective. "If this situation happened at any other private entity, he would’ve been gone and fired by now," he said.
Evans’ wife, Kristen Kirch, also defended him at a recent town board meeting, emphasizing his decades of military and public service. "For 40 years, he has served in leadership roles without a single complaint," she said. "Why now? This isn’t the man I know."
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