Party activists are calling for the N.C. Democratic Party chairman and executive director to resign amid questions concerning a secret agreement to pay a former staffer to keep quiet about sexual harassment allegations.
Chairman David Parker and Executive Director Jay Parmley are facing tough questions about a financial settlement given to a low-level staffer earlier this year who was fired soon after he complained about being sexually harassed by a senior party official. The settlement agreement and nondisclosure statement came to light Friday in internal party emails obtained by The News & Observer, but the documents did not identify the party official responsible.
At the Wake and Durham county party conventions Saturday, party activists introduced resolutions demanding Parker and Parmley resign or be fired. Other party officials also are privately asking the two top officials to leave for the sake of the party.
In Wake County, Democratic consultant Perry Woods put forth a resolution saying the party "must deal with sexual harassment claims in an open and transparent fashion."
The party must be "not only beyond guilt but above suspicion, and event a hint or perception of a cover-up is damaging to the party's credibility," the resolution stated.
