The first Black mayor of a tiny Black Belt town who was locked out of town hall and denied access to the town’s bank accounts by his white predecessor would be reinstated to his position under a proposed settlement with the white defendants he sued in federal court.
The case filed by Patrick Braxton, a contractor and firefighter who became mayor of Newbern in 2020 after he was the only candidate to qualify, was set to go to trial in federal court in Selma in September when the parties filed the proposed settlement Friday in federal court in Selma.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement with the Town of Newbern, Haywood Stokes III, Braxton’s predecessor, who claimed to be the legitimate mayor, and white council members appointed by Stokes, Braxton would be reinstated.
U.S. District Court Judge Kristi DuBose would have to sign off on the settlement for it to become official.
Braxton has been unable to assume his duties in the Hale County town of 133 people, which always had all-white leadership despite being 80 percent Black.
White council members held a special election, which Braxton said was not publicized to him or the Black council members and they were not told how to qualify for the contest.
The white council, which were the only candidates to qualify, were declared the winner.
After Braxton refused to meet with the white council because doing so would lend it legitimacy, the white council declared the mayor’s office vacant and named Stokes interim mayor.
Under the proposed agreement’s terms, the defendants will also admit to Braxton’s allegations that they committed several constitutional violations, including provisions of the Voting Rights Act, when Stokes and the white council members maintained their control of Newbern Town Hall.
Newbern would also pledge to hold free and fair elections, starting in November 2025.
Alabama law says municipalities must hold elections in odd-numbered years.
A spokeswoman for one of Braxton’s attorneys could not immediately be reached for comment.
