Gav who luvs criminals thinks it is okay to appoint his former employee who was convicted of domestic violence and child abuse

 

(Nathan Ballard: Napa County Sheriff's Office)

On Friday, California Gavin Newsom's Press Office included this appointment. Other than giving the appointment to someone who worked for him, Gav who luvs criminals and his press office left out Ballard's criminal record.

Napa County DA's press release (2021):

Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced today:

On August 19, 2021 Nathan Ballard, age 52 was sentenced for misdemeanor Corporal Injury on an Intimate Partner and misdemeanor Child Abuse. The Honorable Scott R.L. Young presided over the sentencing in Napa Superior Court.

The convictions stem from a 2020 incident at the Carneros Inn where Mr. Ballard pushed his wife into a glass door injuring her head and held a pillow over the torso and head of his then four-year old daughter while calling the child derogatory names. The investigation in this matter was spearheaded by the Napa County Sheriff’s Department and prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kecia Lind. The plea agreement was entered into by the parties, with the approval of the adult victim Mara Reinhardt, in an effort to secure a six year no contact order protecting her children from the criminal defendant.

Mara Reinhardt appeared in court at the time of sentencing accompanied by her family members and members of the Napa County District Attorney’s Office victim services team. She made a powerful victim impact statement at the time of sentencing explaining in part, “This is the first time I have been in the presence of my husband since that incident, 10 months ago. This is the first time I have spoken in publicabout that evening. This is the first time that I have allowed daylight into the dark corners of our relationship.”

For those who know me, you know that being up here today is one of the most frightening things I have ever done. I am an incredibly shy, private, and guarded person…I am here today for my children. I am here for our safety and for our protection from Nathan Ballard. Nate’s version is the convenient story of a powerful, extremely experienced public relations expert and trained attorney. It is terrifying because I am certain that Nate’s privileged arrogance makes him confident that he is getting away with this.

Nate always makes sure that everyone knows that he is highly connected to powerful people:

The Governor, The Vice President, various Congressmen and Women, Senators, Mayors, SF Police Chief, District Attorneys, many more people of influence in both the political and private world. He was written up as one of the 10 most powerful people in San Francisco. He never let me forget it. While I recoil being u

"Nathan “Nate” Balthe spotlight, Nate lives for it. Nate’s image is the only thing he genuinely cares about. Long after we leave here today, I know that Nate will spend his life trying to spin yet another story, to destroy me, the children, and most likely anyone associated with this case.”

Deputy District Attorney Kecia Lind explains these sentiments aren’t uncommon when a domestic abuser is prominent, carrying high prestige in a community, “The abuser uses their prominence to intimidate and further control their victims. By threatening to use their power to continue the abuse and assassination of character of the victims are features used to deflect personal responsibility and accountability for their wrongdoing. The Napa County District Attorney’s Office amplifies the voices of survivors and this brave survivor refuses to be cowed by continued bullying or minimization of criminal behavior.” 

From Newsom's Press Office on 11/6/26:

Nathan “Nate” Ballard, of Mill Valley, has been appointed to the State Historical Resources Commission. Ballard has been Principal Attorney at Law Offices of Nathan Ballard since 2021. He has been Chief Executive Officer at The Crisis Team since 2021. Ballard was Chief Executive Officer at The Press Shop Inc. from 2011 to 2021. He was Managing Director at Burson-Marsteller from 2010 to 2011. Ballard was Communications Director at the Office of Mayor Gavin Newsom from 2007 to 2010. He was Communications Director at Jackie Speir for Lieutenant Governor in 2006. Ballard was Chief Executive Officer at Earned Media LLC from 2004 to 2007. He was California Communications Director at the Democratic National Committee in 2004. Ballard was California Press Secretary at John Kerry for President in 2004. He was Missouri Communications Director at Wes Clark for President in 2004. Ballard was Communications Director at the California Labor Federation, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations from 2003 to 2004. He was Communications Director at the California Democratic Party in 2002. Ballard was Deputy City Attorney at the City and County of San Francisco from 1999 to 2001. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Motion Picture-Television from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Ballard is a Democrat."