Reporter Publisher
At a press conference conducted on Thursday in Westfield, Carmel Clerk Treasurer Christine Pauley outlined additional allegations of harassment by Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard.
City of Carmel Director of Community Relations Nancy Heck spoke to the Reporter after the press conference on Mayor Brainard’s behalf.
Pauley stated in 2015, when leaving a Christmas party, Brainard forcibly kissed her and grabbed her buttocks.
“The mayor is denying the allegations at the Christmas party,” Heck said.
Pauley outlined how, in 2016, she refused Brainard’s offers of trips to Rome and a lodge in Wisconsin.
Pauley also provided members of the media with an email sent to her from Brainard that contained an adult toy advertisement. The email from Brainard said, “I keep getting these ads to … wondered if my rosy signed me up [smiley face emoji].”
Christine Pauley said she received an email from Jim Brainard that contained an advertisement for sex toys. Pictured is the adult website advertisement that displayed a partially nude woman advertising sex toys. Note: The Reporter redacted portions of the photo that were inappropriate for publication. (Photo provided)
Pauley said the email made her feel dirty, stating, “On many occasions he would drunk email or text me and so I just ignored it and said no, I am just going to ignore it.”
Heck responded to this point by telling the Reporter, “The website issue was one that many people receive these days where you get your unsolicited ads for random stuff. [The mayor] was jokingly trying to find out if she signed him up for the notices.”
At the news conference Pauley denied ever having a sexual relationship with Brainard.
In an exclusive conversation with the Reporter, Pauley described returning home from a date and finding Mayor Brainard sitting in her residence.
Heck told the Reporter, “[The mayor] has no recollection of the particular event that the Clerk Treasurer is referring to in the last allegation.”
“Jim Brainard is a very powerful and politically connected mayor,” said Pauley. “I am no different than any other female who has experience unwanted advances. I felt shame and embarrassment and figured no one would believe me, so I continued on, walking a tight rope, trying to remain professional, but not being sucked into the Mayor’s promises and advancements. In today’s political world, I believe it’s time to have this discussion. I am not running for office so I don’t have to live in fear of retaliation. The citizens of Carmel deserve to know who they are electing to be their next mayor.”
“I don’t know if I am the only one that he had pursued, but from my understanding there is more. I’d like to plead that any other women that have been a victim of Mr. Brainard come forward,” concluded Pauley.
Click here to view the complete video recording of Thursday’s press conference.