City sues Alexandria council president, says she’s harassing employees for political gain

Melissa Gregory
Alexandria Town Talk

The city of Alexandria announced Wednesday it had filed two lawsuits against City Council President Catherine Davidson "to stop (her) from continually and currently violating the city's Home Rule Charter and to stop her harassment and wrongful conduct against city employees."

A release from the city said it seeks to have the investigation approved last week by a 4-1 vote of the council declared improper and to have it stopped because the Charter requirements for an investigation weren't met.

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One lawsuit is a petition to start an investigation into alleged violations of the city's charter. It lists Alexandria Police Department Chief Ronney Howard and Mayor Jeff Hall as plaintiffs and Davidson as the sole defendant. 

The other is a petition for a declaratory judgment and permanent injunction. It was filed on behalf of the city, Hall and Howard against Davidson and fellow council members Gerber Porter, Reddex Washington and Cynthia Perry — the four who voted for the investigation into Hall's administration.

In the first lawsuit, the petition for an investigation, Davidson is accused of becoming hostile toward Alexandria Police Department Chief Ronney Howard during an April 25 meeting and accusing him of lying and covering up for Mayor Jeff Hall's administration.

A letter from a lieutenant who witnessed the altercation called Davidson "an embarrassment to herself and the city council."

The city is alleging that Davidson is using the issue of crime to further her own political career and divide the Alexandria Police Department, although Davidson has denied that several times.

An email to Davidson seeking comment wasn't immediately returned.

The available lawsuit names Howard and Mayor Jeff Hall as plaintiffs and Davidson as the sole defendant.

It states that the mayor can sue council members for violations and that the charter prohibits council members from dealing with officers or employees under the mayor's supervision and from giving those people orders either in public or private.

Davidson apparently went to see Howard at police headquarters on April 25 to discuss a council meeting from April 19, reads the lawsuit.

Howard told Lt. Robert DiStefano to further explain how some statistics shared during that meeting were developed. But, according to the lawsuit and DiStefano's accompanying letter, Davidson soon began to "demand and/or direct" DiStefano to provide her with information beyond what previously had been discussed.

Davidson asked for assignment sheets for several dates, reads DiStefano's letter. When he told her he couldn't provide those, she became frustrated and agitated.

Another letter from Capt. Deborah Blackwood echoed DiStefano's, adding that Davidson continually talked over Howard as he tried to explain the situation.

"Ms. Davidson kept referring to herself as the president of the city council," it reads. "At one time, Chief Howard got up to leave to check on the information, Ms. Davidson was making a phone call and, as she hung up, she yelled down the hall that he was a liar."

The lawsuit only states Davidson allegedly became "upset and hostile," directing the officers to produce materials.

"Unfortunately, a verbal altercation between Chief Howard and Davidson erupted in the presence of other officers and within earshot of several onlookers," it reads.

The two continued speaking privately, although both letters state the argument was loud enough to be heard by others, and the lawsuit alleges it was then that Davidson accused Howard of lying and covering up for Hall's administration.

"Chief Howard told Davidson she was delusional if she believed he was covering anything up or lying about the stats previously provided to the council," it reads.

It alleges Davidson told Howard she would use the media, especially two unidentified KALB employees, against the chief and that he would be "collateral damage" if he didn't provide her with what she wanted.

"Davidson failed to explain what she meant by Howard being 'collateral damage.'

The lawsuit alleges Davidson's actions left Howard and other officers worried about "unwarranted political retribution or media attacks if those officers failed to defer" to her.

The lawsuit also contends Davidson has tried to directly get information from the city's Finance Director David Johnson and other. It alleges she urged the director to use "creative accounting" to pay $1,560 to a former city employee, Darren Sigur.

A copy of Davidson's letter to Johnson doesn't state what Sigur was hired to do or who hired him, but it does state he worked at city council meetings in 2021 and 2022. 

The second lawsuit that seeks an injunction states Hall initially believed the council's investigation would concern the police department.

"However, it has become apparent that Mayor Hall's belief was not justified," it reads. "The council's 'investigation' instead appears to be an investigation of Mayor Hall and Chief Howard individually for the political gain of Catherine Davidson."

It also claims the investigation concerns matters not within the charter and Davidson's allegations of criminal conduct by Hall's administration.

During the May 12 council meeting, Davidson referenced "the changing of public records" as one of the reasons behind the investigation.

But the second lawsuit contends Davidson's investigation oversteps her authority, stating the state's constitution doesn't provide "concurrent jurisdiction of a municipal city council and a district attorney in relation to criminal matters."

It states the investigation is intended to "embarrass, intimidate, oppress and harass" Hall and Howard, as well as impugn their integrity.

No hearing dates in the 9th Judicial District Court have been set in either lawsuit, according to online court records.

Davidson has called a special council meeting for Thursday, during which she intended to receive testimony, but whether that will happen now is unclear.