BRENTWOOD — After weeks of scrutiny over sexually suggestive text messages he exchanged while working in Oakland and new allegations about his treatment of women in Brentwood City Hall, City Manager G. Harold Duffey was placed on immediate paid administrative leave Tuesday night.
The City Council did not say whether either controversy prompted the decision. Mayor Susannah Meyer said the unanimous vote was “not a final determination of any matter” and that the city could not discuss details because of legal, privacy and due process limits.
The City Council voted 4-0 during a special meeting Tuesday night to place Duffey on leave. Vice Mayor Pa’tanisha Pierson abstained.
City operations will continue under the leadership of Brentwood’s executive team and department heads, Meyer said.
“The Council has confidence in our City staff. We appreciate the community’s engagement and patience,” said Meyer. “We will share additional information when it is appropriate and legally permissible.”
Duffey, who was appointed as Brentwood’s city manager in October 2025, previously served as an assistant city administrator in Oakland. Prior to his departure from Oakland, Duffey had provided key evidence to federal agents that led to criminal indictments against ex-Mayor Sheng Thao.
On May 15, Oakland City Administrator Jestin Johnson abruptly resigned after reports of text messages he sent about women who worked at City Hall came to light. The messages between Johnson and Duffey in 2024 revealed the two men used suggestive language.
During one exchange, Duffey told Johnson that a woman official “got the old player mesmerized,” referring to himself. Johnson responded that “you have to sit next to her … I have to force myself to look into her eyes.”
“She had me a little giddy yesterday,” Johnson wrote.
In June 2024, Johnson and Duffey described different women staff members as “kryptonite,” apparently in reference to their appeal.
Brentwood leaders did not publicly comment when news of the text scandal first broke. During a State of the City address May 18, a resident publicly questioned Duffey’s presence.
“Mr. Duffey is in those text messages and has no business being here after that conduct and his behavior towards women,” the resident said. “He absolutely should not be part of our city and he should not be in this room today.”
On May 26, less than two weeks after Johnson’s resignation, several Brentwood employee associations came forward with complaints of gender-based discrimination during Duffey’s time in Brentwood.
In a letter to the City Council, employees from four organizations said they had a “serious concern” about Duffey and incidents at their workplace.
The letter was signed by representatives of four employee groups, including associations representing office, public works, supervisory, professional, managerial and confidential employees.
The associations also urged city leaders to launch an independent third-party review of the complaints.
Duffey did not respond to requests for comment from this news organization.
A man who identified himself as a Brentwood employee, but did not give his name, in written public comment said he witnessed multiple incidents involving Duffey’s treatment of women at City Hall. He said he also shared details with the city’s human resources department, the mayor and vice mayor.
“Whenever the City Manager needed my attention, he would walk over to my desk and respectfully ask, ‘Do you have a minute?’ or ‘Can we talk about the projects you are working on?’ He treated me professionally and respectfully. But when it came to female staff members, I witnessed behavior that honestly broke my heart,” the man during public comment. “I witnessed women being summoned over through finger waving and hand gestures that felt degrading and dehumanizing.”
The city has not said whether it has opened an investigation, whether an outside review will be conducted or how long Duffey’s leave is expected to last.