California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing mounting controversy after appointing a close aide with a domestic violence conviction to the California State Historical Resources Commission.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Newsom appointed Nathan Ballard, 57, to the commission on November 6. The commission is responsible for designating state historical landmarks and preserving cultural heritage.
Ballard is a close aide who served as Newsomβs spokesperson from 2007 to 2010 when Newsom was the mayor of San Francisco.
Ballard was arrested in 2020 at a luxury resort in Napa County for allegedly pushing his then-wife against a glass door and pressing a pillow over the face of his four-year-old daughter. The following year, he entered a no contest plea to misdemeanor domestic battery and child endangerment, receiving four years of probation. Restraining orders protecting his ex-wife and two children were initially issued for six years, though they were later shortened to two years.
Victims’ advocacy groups and community leaders sharply criticized the appointment.
Ivy Lee, director of the San Francisco Mayorβs Office on Housing and Community Development’s Office of Housing, told the local outlet Mission Local, “Why elevate an abuser to a high-profile position? Decisions like this by people in power send a clear message about how they view abuse survivors.”
Nadia Rahman, former president of the San Francisco Women’s Political Committee, also pointed out that the appointment could normalize an abuser’s behavior and serve as a pathway back into the core political network.
The Newsom administration responded by stating, “The Governor considers a candidateβs background, qualifications, and suitability during the appointment process. While accountability for abusive actions is essential, we also believe in the importance of second chances.”
