Mecklenburg County, NC — Monifa Drayton, the executive director of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party, announced her resignation on Wednesday, citing concerns of racial and gender discrimination within the organization. Drayton, who also raised issues regarding governance, accountability, and spending practices, described a workplace environment she felt was hostile and discriminatory.
Drayton’s resignation comes after a tenure during which she alleged her responsibilities were limited to working only with minority communities, which she found “humiliating.” In a resignation letter obtained by WFAE, Drayton expressed frustration that her role had been reduced, comparing her experience to the segregationist practices of the Jim Crow era.
In a separate message sent in August to party leaders, Drayton expressed concerns over what she described as “ongoing disconnects regarding leadership expectations, appropriate behavior, and role clarification.” According to a copy of the email obtained by The Charlotte Observer, Drayton requested a memorandum of understanding to clearly define her role and sought the assistance of a mediator or HR consultant to address her concerns with the party chair.
The Mecklenburg County Democratic Party, under Chair Drew Kromer, has aimed to expand its reach by raising over $2 million and increasing staff to boost historically low voter turnout in the county. Despite these efforts, voter participation in Mecklenburg County during the recent election again fell below the state average.
In a statement following Drayton’s resignation, the Mecklenburg Democratic Party did not address her specific allegations but affirmed its commitment to fostering a diverse workforce and providing equal opportunity for all. “What we can say is that our organization, like our fundamental party beliefs, remains steadfastly committed to the principles of a diverse workforce and opportunity for all people,” the party’s statement read.
The resignation has raised questions within Mecklenburg’s political circles about the party’s internal dynamics and commitment to diversity and equity in practice. Party officials declined to comment further on personnel matters, and it remains unclear whether additional measures will be implemented to address the issues Drayton highlighted.
