Allegations Against Andraé Evans: Workplace Misconduct or Political Takedown?
Irondequoit Town Supervisor Andraé Evans is facing allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation, prompting both a town board censure and an ongoing criminal investigation. However, some question whether the accusations are valid or if they are part of a politically motivated effort to unseat him while others have accused the town board of overreacting.
In November 2024, the Irondequoit Town Board commissioned Nearpass & Koegel PLLC to investigate a misconduct complaint against Evans. The resulting 34-page report, released in January 2025, concluded that Evans likely violated the town's anti-harassment policies. The report detailed allegations that Evans made inappropriate comments to a female employee, including comparisons to his wife and remarks about her attire. The employee resigned in September 2024, citing a hostile work environment. The report also found that Evans' behavior toward the complainant changed after she raised concerns, supporting the charge of retaliation. However, the findings did not definitively support the sexual harassment claim.
Following the report's release, town board members issued a formal reprimand and called for Evans' resignation. They engaged new legal counsel, reviewed and strengthened workplace policies, and established a special subcommittee—excluding Evans—to address the situation's impact and develop strategies for improving workplace communication. Additionally, the board referred the matter to the Monroe County District Attorney's Office for a criminal investigation.
At a board meeting Thursday, 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, formerly the town’s legal counsel, has cast doubt on the integrity of the investigation and the board's handling of the case. Brown, who resigned from his role, cited concerns that the probe was politically motivated and aimed at removing Evans from office.
"We were the town attorney, but when it came to the investigation, we were excluded," Brown said in an interview with Minority Reporter. "There was no legitimate basis for that."
Brown also questioned the timing of the allegations, noting that the investigation’s findings were released just days before a town board member, John Perticone, announced his candidacy for supervisor. "Everything I saw around this was suspect," Brown said.
Brown further expressed skepticism about the severity of the allegations, stating that in his 40 years as an employment attorney, he had not seen anything in the public findings that would rise to the level of criminal charges. "The question arises: How was this funneled to the District Attorney’s Office, and who manipulated that?"
Additionally, according to an article on Rochesterfirst.com, another law firm, Bond Schoeneck & King, raised allegations that the town board and special counsel’s “certain actions” may have been unlawful and in violation of due process.
Brown, whose firm has represented the town since mid-2024, disclosed that he had represented Evans in a minor discrimination case years earlier but asserted that this did not preclude his firm from its work 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.
While Evans has denied wrongdoing, 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 was released, currently sits on the town board and said he had repeatedly been asked to run for supervisor. "The events this year made me reconsider," he said.
Perticone has served on the town board since 2007 and previously spent a year on the town Planning Board.
Irondequoit residents have weighed in on the controversy. Some have criticized the investigation as politically motivated and racially biased.
"This has all the markings of a political hit job," said Irondequoit resident and former Cornell University professor Douglas Knipple. "The report is replete with classic racist tropes regarding Black men in positions of 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 matter was handled publicly instead of as an internal personnel issue.
"I worked for a large global organization for 36 years, and these situations are always investigated internally, under legal oversight," said Irondequoit 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 supported the findings against Evans.
"In any other workplace, this kind of behavior would get someone fired," said resident Maria Nicchitta. "Why should the town be any different?"
Evans has denied the allegations, characterizing them as part of an orchestrated effort to remove him from office. “I regret if any of my words were misinterpreted, but I did not harass or retaliate against anyone,” he said.
Evans remains resolute in his decision to run for another term.
"You know me. You see me. Character does not change," Evans said in a statement to the Irondequoit Democratic Committee, Wednesday. "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, the controversy remains divisive in Irondequoit. Some believe the allegations warrant serious scrutiny, while others see them as an orchestrated political attack. The coming months will determine the legal and political fate of Supervisor Evans and whether the case is rooted in misconduct or maneuvering.
"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."
"If this situation happened at any other private entity, he would’ve been gone and fired by now," Perticone said.
Evans’ wife, Kristen Kirch, also defended him at a town board meeting last week, 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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