Creedmoor councilwoman agrees her verbal attack warrants ban from City Hall

Commissioner Georgana Kicinski has been barred from City Hall, other than for board meetings and appointments with the city manager after a recent confrontation with a Creedmoor city staffer.

The City Hall ban was part of a censure the Board of Commissioners approved March 10 in response to her confrontation with city Administrative Services Director Genesis Wallace a week earlier.

According to a police report, Police Chief Keith King heard shouting in an office on March 3 and went inside to find Kicinski screaming expletives and threats at Wallace, who was backed into a corner with a chair between her and Kicinski. King had to put himself between the two to get Kicinski's attention and order her to leave the building.

Kicinski had asked another Creedmoor employee to summon King because she "was about to have an issue with" Wallace, according to the report. But the report contains no details about what led to the outburst.

Kimberly Muktarian, who is serving as an advocate for Wallace, said Tuesday that she believes the verbal attack might have been racially motivated.

Wallace is Black, while Kicinski is white.

"We have known for many years the pattern of white women who call law enforcement to their aid, regardless of if they have any strong stance of what has happened or not," Muktarian said. "Even though she is the aggressor, she felt the need to bring in law enforcement at her aid. This is what disturbs us the most."

Kicinski apologized to other commissioners in a closed-door meeting and them joined with them in voting for the censure and the building ban.

"The mayor and Board of Commissioners accepted Commissioner Kicinski’s apology and statement of regret for her actions and affirmed their belief in her statement that an incident like this would never reoccur," city officials said in a statement. "It was also made clear to Commissioner Kicinski that ... the interaction she had with a city employee was not appropriate for a person in her position, and another incident of this nature would not be tolerated.

"Commissioner Kicinski was encouraged to use this as an opportunity for learning, introspection and self-assessment to make her an even better representative for her constituents," the statement continued.

City Attorney T.C. Morphis and other Creedmoor officials declined to comment Tuesday beyond the statement.

Kicinski also declined to comment.

Wallace, whom King noted in his report was visibly shaken by the confrontation, is seeking a restraining order against Kicinski.

Muktarian said Kicinski's apology and the board's censure of her doesn't go far enough.

"I’m not sure if the same courtesy would have been extended to Mrs. Wallace had the shoe been on the other foot," she said.

Muktarian said the state should require racial equity training for anyone seeking public office, and she plans to file a grievance with the Granville County Board of Elections, requesting Kicinski be removed from her position.

"Her character speaks not only for herself but for the [city] of Creedmoor," she said.