Local Politics

Some see Raleigh mayor's new job as potential conflict of interest

Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin has a new job that some see as problematic.

Posted Updated

By
Cullen Browder
, WRAL anchor/reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin has a new job that some see as problematic.

Baldwin is now the director of business development at Barnhill Contracting, a major Triangle construction company. Although some critics say the position is a conflict of interest because Barnhill does business with the city, Baldwin said Thursday that’s not the case.

She said her new position is a matter of timing and circumstance. She previously led the nonprofit Holt Foundation, but she said she couldn't raise money during the pandemic, which prevented her from doing her job.

Potential conflicts arise when part-time public leaders have private-sector jobs. Days before Baldwin says she was approached to work for Barnhill, the company won a $6.3 million contract to resurface Raleigh roads by a unanimous vote of the City Council.

Barnhill won a a more lucrative resurfacing contract in 2018, when Baldwin wasn't in office. The company also lost out last on two other Raleigh-based projects: road resurfacing and the widening of Tryon Road.

Baldwin said she will be "open and transparent" and recuse herself from any votes regarding Barnhill. She added that, while the City Council gives final approval on contracts, members don't get involved in the bidding process.

The mayor has clashed at times with critics who say she’s too close to developers.

Upon learning of her job with Barnhill, former Planning Commission member Bob Geary posted on Facebook, "Uh, conflict of interest? Or just MAB beholden to the development industry – again."

UNC School of Government professor Frayda Bluestein said there's no violation as long as Baldwin doesn’t vote on Barnhill contracts.

"No, I don’t think there’s a conflict legally," Bluestein said, adding that doesn’t keep the situation from being awkward. "The fact that this is happening is not illegal, but there are questions that will come up as it goes along."

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