Ballard, Former Newsom Spokesman, Sentenced For Domestic Violence

NAPA COUNTY, CA — Nathan Ballard, a well-known Democratic political strategist whose past clients have included Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. John Kerry, was convicted and sentenced Thursday in Napa County Superior Court for misdemeanor corporal injury on an intimate partner and misdemeanor child abuse.

According to the Napa County District Attorney's Office, the charges against Ballard, 52, of Greenbrae, stem "from a 2020 incident at the Carneros Inn where Nathan Ballard pushed his wife into a glass door injuring her head and held a pillow over the torso and head of his then 4-year-old daughter while calling the child derogatory names."

The Napa County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case against Ballard and it was prosecuted by Napa County Deputy District Attorney Kecia Lind.

Under a plea agreement reached with the approval of Ballard's wife, a six-year, no-contact restraining order prevents Ballard from seeing his children, the DA's Office said.

The primary conditions of his plea agreement were four years formal probation, one day in jail, a 16-hour work program, parenting classes and a batterer’s intervention program, the county said.

"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 public about 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 under the 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."

Lind said the sentiments shared by Ballard's wife were "not uncommon when a domestic abuser is prominent and carries a high prestige in a community."

"The abuser uses their prominence to intimidate and further control their victims," Lind said. "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.”

Shortly after Ballard's arrest in October 2020, his attorney, Anthony Brass, said he was confident Ballard would be "fully acquitted once the District Attorney's Office had a chance to review the facts and learn all sides of the story."

"Nate knows that he is not perfect, but he is facing his own challenges head-on," Brass said in a written statement at the time. "After nearly eight years of continuous sobriety, Nate resumed drinking in April, after his father died. He is now clean and sober again, and he is currently in a residential recovery program to deal with his drinking problem in a responsible, comprehensive manner."

Ballard worked as the spokesperson and communications director for Newsom when the governor was the mayor of San Francisco. Ballard's past clients as founder and owner of a public relations agency also included John Kerry, Wesley Clark, the Democratic National Committee, the California Democratic Party, and the California Labor Federation.

According to Lind, anyone in Napa County who is experiencing violence in the home has options; the DA's Office in collaboration with the Monarch Justice Center is staffed with advocates who can be reached at Monarchjusticecenter.org or 707-225-3807.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.