Leadership Under Fire: The Battle for Truth in Irondequoit

Leadership Under Fire: The Battle for Truth in Irondequoit

When the storm hits, true leadership is not defined by applause but by endurance. In an age where character assassination is political sport, Lt. Col. Andre Evans stands as a man tested not by popularity, but by principle. On The Next Steps Show, we stripped away the noise to confront the heart of the matter: faith, truth, and the burden of public service when the arrows start flying.

As I told listeners at the start of the program, “A nation does not fall because of enemies at the gate, but because of the rot within the walls.” That set the tone for a conversation not about politics, but about integrity in a time of moral decay.

Evans joined me not as a politician, but as a man of service — a decorated U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, two-time Bronze Star recipient, and the first Black Town Supervisor of Irondequoit, New York. His story is one of achievement under fire, both literal and figurative.

Evans began, as many great leaders do, by grounding himself in gratitude. “Blessings first to God who makes all things possible,” he said. His humility wasn’t rehearsed — it was lived. From his upbringing in Louisiana, losing his mother to cancer at one year old, to working from the age of nine to support his family, Evans’ story reflects resilience shaped by faith.

He spoke of being raised in a household of strong women, which inspired his lifelong commitment to empowering others. “My sisters were my inspiration,” he recalled. “I was the only son left, and I saw their struggles. My unconscious commitment became to make sure that as I moved in leadership, I supported women.”

Evans’ leadership journey is steeped in principle. He was the first to promote a female first sergeant in a combat unit and made sure women were elevated in every command he held. “Equity means a lot to many people,” he said, “but in a foxhole, you don’t care about color, creed, or politics — only that the person next to you has your back.”

The controversy surrounding Evans’ tenure could have broken a lesser man. Accusations of misconduct, censure by the town board, and political attacks became the headlines. But as Evans noted, “Even if 100 percent of the report was true — and it wasn’t — no one has ever been treated the way I’ve been treated.”

His response was not to lash out, but to double down on faith and perseverance. “There are no charges. There are no indictments. There was never a reason to censure,” he stated plainly. The issue, according to him, was reduced to a single complaint: “Please improve your communication.”

I asked the question many in the community were thinking: why not just resign and move on? His answer cut through the noise: “Because truth does not change. My character has always been based on integrity, honesty, and moral courage — those servant leadership values have guided me my whole life.”

Evans’ story reflects the essence of biblical leadership — tested in the fire, refined through trial. He referenced Proverbs 10:9: “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”

This was not a man running from scrutiny, but one walking straight through it. He told listeners, “There’s only one thing in the universe that doesn’t vibrate, rotate, or change — and that’s the truth.”

That line struck home because it speaks to a crisis beyond Irondequoit — a national crisis of moral relativism, where truth has become negotiable. Evans’ story reminds us that leadership, at its core, is service under pressure, and service demands accountability to something higher than politics.

When the town board barred Evans from entering his own office, he didn’t stop working. “I’ve continued the work of being a supervisor,” he said. “We have $1.3 million sitting for a new barrier-free playground and amphitheater that should’ve been completed by July 4th.”

His frustration was clear — not self-pity, but duty deferred. “They issued orders for directors not to communicate with me. I think they wanted to slow down the work I was doing. But I continue to serve.”

We talked about public trust, bureaucracy, and the moral decay of leadership when power replaces principle. Evans summarized it best: “I’m not a politician. I’m a public servant. I work for the people. I serve the people — not politics.”

That statement — simple, honest, and unguarded — cut to the heart of the Vanboolzalness Crisis: the decay of integrity and the substitution of identity politics for accountability.

Evans’ record in office reflected measurable achievements — improved wages for municipal workers, fiscal discipline, community grants for child advocacy and domestic violence programs, and environmental initiatives that saved taxpayers tens of thousands. Yet those victories were buried under headlines designed to destroy reputations before facts could speak.

When asked how he handles it, his answer was calm but resolute: “When you’re married to something God-significant, the struggles become like water off a duck’s back.”

That right there is leadership — not a title, not a slogan, but the willingness to take hits while standing for something true.

The discussion turned from local politics to the larger national decay. Evans and I spoke candidly about what happens when leadership loses its anchor in truth. “Discrimination to promote injustice is wrong,” he said. “Discrimination to fix injustice is right.”

That statement, simple yet profound, cut through the ideological fog. We agreed that servant leadership is not about gender, color, or party — it is about moral courage and accountability before God and community.

Leadership Under Fire, as this episode revealed, is not just a title — it is the story of our times. When truth becomes a liability, integrity becomes an act of rebellion.

As we closed the show, I reminded listeners that “Honor demands truth and accountability without falter. It doesn’t matter whether you’re Black, Brown, or Green — whether you worship Donald Duck or Jesus Christ — honor is what defines leadership.”

Evans echoed that spirit when he spoke about faith and family: “My wife has been my light through deployments and controversy. Together, we’ve faced everything with prayer and perseverance.”

This episode wasn’t about defending a man. It was about defending an idea — that leadership rooted in faith, tested in adversity, and committed to truth is the only kind that lasts.

So the question I leave with our listeners is this: When your integrity is on trial, will you stand tall, or bow to convenience?

Because as Evans proved — and as our nation must remember — real leadership begins where comfort ends.