Newbern's First Black Mayor Resigns Amid Controversy

The majority black, tiny Hale County Town of Newbern has lost its first black mayor. Patrick Braxton sent a letter to the city council on Friday saying, "It has been my honor and pleasure to serve as the mayor." The resignation follows a letter from the white man, realtor Laird Cole, who lost the election to Braxton and then questioned Braxton's residency.

Cole claims Braxton falsely listed his residency with-in the town limits. Braxton denied the allegations and a complaint was dismissed Friday following a confidential settlement.

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Over the years, the town of 133 resident's mayorship had been basically passed down as a white inheritance despite an 80% black population. But, in 2020, black residents were able to cast their ballots directly for one of their own. Braxton defeated Laird 66 to 26.

After Braxton was sworn in as Newbern’s first Black mayor, council members locked him out of the town hall and reappointed themselves to their positions after ordering a special election that no one knew about, according to court documents. That prompted Braxton in 2023 to file a federal civil rights lawsuit accusing town officials of conspiring to deny his civil rights and his position because of his race.

Now, after a 2024 federal court settlement allowed him to serve, Braxton is out of office after Cole filed a civil complaint claiming Braxton had listed a false address as his residence in Newbern town limits.

"I hope this council will adopt an unbiased process for appoint the next mayor of Newbern and not be swayed by any previous recommendation of support they received from Patrick Braxton," Cole wrote in a new release about the matter.

Cole went on to say he was the only qualified candidate in last year's election. He called Braxton's resignation an, "...important case for election integrity and the rule of law."

The political and racial issues in the southern Hale County town have drawn national media attention.