UPDATE — Andrea Brue, executive director of the New Roads Housing Authority, was terminated during a board meeting on July 16, UWK has learned.
Her termination follows sexual harassment allegations made by a former employee, who told UWK that no one wanted to investigate the claims. In a 3-2 vote following UWK’s investigation, the five-member board initially voted to allow Brue to keep her position.
Since then, board member Ramona Forest was arrested on drug charges, and the June meeting, where Brue’s future was expected to be discussed, was canceled due to a lack of quorum.
As of July 1, two board members’ terms expired. New Roads’ mayor is responsible for appointing replacements. After the two appointments were made, board member Anthony Hurst resigned earlier this week, leaving the board with only four members. However, one board member was not able to make tonight’s meeting leaving only three members.
At the July 16 meeting, the three-member board voted unanimously to terminate Brue, effective immediately.
UWK made multiple attempts to contact Brue for comment, but our calls went unanswered.
NEW ROADS – Multiple agencies appear to be passing the buck for investigating sexual harassment allegations against Andrea Brue, the executive director of the New Roads Housing Authority. Despite the serious nature of the claims, the Housing Authority’s board voted 3-2 to allow Brue to remain in her position.
Russell Scott, who worked as a maintenance technician for the Housing Authority beginning in July 2024, claims Brue sent him inappropriate text messages in November 2024. When he did not respond to her alleged advances, he says the work environment became hostile.
In early May 2025, Scott was terminated without being given a reason, he told UWK.
“It all started back when I got these sexual text messages, and I resisted her advances,” Scott told UWK. “I said if the shoe was on the other foot, if it was me, I would have been terminated on the spot. No questions asked. It is a double standard.”
Scott shared with UWK a series of texts he says were sent by Brue in November 2024:
Andrea 7:11 a.m. : “Good morning! I don’t want anything work related…I also don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable but I had a crazy dream this morning!”
Andrea 10:17 a.m.: “Russell, you could have said what the hell do you want Andrea?”
Russell 10:19 a.m. Russel: “Gm miss what’s up, what kind of dream?”
Andrea 10:23 a.m.: “First and foremost, I will always be professional. At no point do I want to cross the line with any of my colleagues.”
Scott alleges that the messages referencing the dream quickly became sexually explicit, including graphic details. While UWK has reviewed the text messages, we have chosen not to publish them due to the sensitive nature of their content.
“I was there to work and I’m deep in the Bible, and messing with a man’s wife, I’m not going to cross that line. I had no interest in Andrea,” he said.
He claims that after the text message exchange, Brue’s behavior shifted. He described an incident where she allegedly berated him and a co-worker in front of a tenant.
“She started to get a little irate. She started to be nitpicky about any and everything,” Scott claims. “One morning, my co-worker and I were removing a microwave that she didn’t want in a unit. She busted in the unit, snatched the man’s door open. She didn’t even say good morning and just kind of jumped down my throat all in front of the tenant, which was unprofessional. So I said, ‘Wait a minute. You told me to do this. You stood right here.’ She got loud and started yelling, ‘I’m not going to argue with y’all.’ So I said, ‘I’m not going to argue with you either.’ ‘Well, you can go home.’ So I went home that day and came back, I think that Monday or whatever. I don’t remember the exact date. But that morning I came in, I got a message from my co-worker that she called her and told her to tell me I’m suspended until further notice. I said, ‘For what? No write-up or anything.’ Okay, so I went home.”
On May 6, 2025, Scott received a letter stating he was terminated as of May 5 for “insubordination to management.” He claims he still has not been paid for his final days of work and that Brue has ignored his attempts to contact her.
Scott claims that he reported the text messages to New Roads Mayor Theron Smith and the New Roads Police Department in mid-May.
Special Meeting Called to Decide Executive Director’s Future
On May 28, the Housing Authority held a special meeting to discuss Brue’s employment. Scott presented the alleged messages. The board went into executive session but reportedly recorded portions of the session, something that may violate open meetings laws. A search of the housing authority’s website did not have any meeting agendas or minutes, which may also be a violation.
Housing Authority Board Member Ramona Forest made a motion to retain Brue as executive director. Anthony Hurst introduced a competing motion to suspend her with pay pending an investigation. That motion failed 2-3.
The original motion to retain Brue passed 3-2.
UWK reached out to Brue for comment via phone and text. As of publication, she has not responded.
Who is Investigating?
Scott told UWK Mayor Smith advised him to report the incident to the police. “When I did speak to the mayor, he told me he would look into it,” Scott said.
When contacted, Mayor Smith told UWK that the Housing Authority is a separate entity of the city and neither he nor his office are involved in the investigation. He said that while he appoints the board, he doesn’t control them once their seated. He added if someone is accused of sexually harassing a subordinate, that’s a very serious offense.
“My thoughts on that are very clear, that if someone is accused of sexually harassing their subordinate, that’s a very serious offense and I think that person should at least be suspended with pay because I don’t want to injure them if the claim proves to be false, but I don’t think that person should be allowed to continue to work while an investigation goes on. I think the investigation should not be rushed to judgment, but it should not be a delay either,” said Mayor Smith.
When asked who is handling the investigation, Smith said the board is responsible and may ask the New Roads Police Department to assist to avoid bias.
“I would expect any board member appointed in the past or will appoint in the future will just do what is good and right in every situation and take connections and friendships out of it because that’s the way it’s supposed to be,” the mayor added.
Scott says that on the mayor’s urging, he sat down with a New Roads police officer and wrote out a detailed report alleging sexual harassment from Brue.
However, New Roads Police Chief Louis Hamilton told UWK: “There was no crime reported. Everything goes through the mayor as far as dealing with HUD and the housing authority. When they (housing authority) decide whatever it is they need to do, they’ll notify us and till then, we don’t associate or deal with anything. That’s through the housing authority, HUD and the mayor, who appoints them. All comments should be directed to the mayor.”
UWK called the New Roads Housing Authority’s main line during regular business hours but received no answer. We then contacted Housing Authority Board Member Anthony Hurst to inquire about who was assigned to investigate the complaint. He repeatedly responded, “No comment,” before hanging up. We posed the same question to board chair Myrtle Wells, who hung up after stating, “I don’t have anything to say at this point, thank you.”
Scott maintains he filed a sexual harassment report with the New Roads Police Department. He states he has requested a copy of this report and personally went to the NRPD last Friday to obtain it, but was unsuccessful. He also noted that his calls and texts to the chief for a copy have gone unanswered.
UWK independently requested a copy of the report Scott claims he filed from the chief, however, our calls and texts have not been returned as of publication.
“I know for a fact if that were me doing that to any woman, I would have been gone. It just feels like it’s because I’m a man, no one cares. I didn’t make this up. My allegations are facts. So why is no one even listening? They’re all turning a blind eye,” a frustrated Scott told UWK.
“I’m out of work, and yes, I see a lot of support for me on social media, but it seems like the right people that are supposed to be supporting me, they’re not doing anything because this woman is still in her job, not even suspended, not even investigated. I worked at that location, and to be fired wrongfully for insubordination and sexual harassment, it’s a stain on my reputation.”
Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area.
Support UWK and its mission to deliver The News You Deserve. Unfiltered. Become a monthly patron on Patreon today!
