Mayor John Norquist said Monday that he would use campaign funds and his own money to pay a $375,000 tentative settlement in a sexual harassment case, rather than having taxpayers pick up the bill.
“I believe this is the right thing to do,” Norquist said. “I made a mistake, as I said before, and I have accepted responsibility for that.”
Marilyn Figueroa, an aide who left her job in January 2000, filed a complaint against the city accusing Norquist of sexual harassment and said the mayor relentlessly pursued her.
Norquist, a 52-year-old Democrat, has acknowledged having what he called a consensual sexual relationship with Figueroa over five years but denied that any harassment occurred.
The Common Council approved the settlement Monday afternoon. City Atty. Grant Langley said Figueroa already has approved it. Both sides still must meet with a judge handling the case.
Council President Marvin Pratt said the mayor has told him he will not run for re-election when his term expires in 2004. But Norquist gave no indication that he was thinking of stepping down. His attorney stressed that the tentative settlement is not an admission by Norquist that his sexual relationship with Figueroa was not consensual, as she has said.
