STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. —
STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. — The City of Stockbridge is speaking publicly for the first time about what prompted an investigation into Mayor Jayden Williams, saying the inquiry stemmed from employee complaints and not a targeted effort against the city’s leader.
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In an exclusive interview, City Attorney Quinton Washington told Channel 2’s Ashli Lincoln city officials felt they had an obligation to investigate allegations brought forward by employees.
“You’ve got two options…do nothing or do something,” Washington said. “We’re just saying that these are things that we need to investigate. And that’s what we’re doing.”
The city announced earlier this month that it had launched an investigation into allegations of misconduct involving Williams. According to Washington, the investigation grew out of multiple complaints submitted by city employees.
“This was not something they went out looking for,” Washington said. “This was something that was brought to them.”
Washington rejected claims that the city is targeting Williams.
When Lincoln asked directly whether the city is targeting the mayor, Washington responded, “No.”
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According to the city attorney, the complaints include allegations that Williams improperly spent more than $4,000 on a city purchasing card and more than $2,000 through a city fuel card. The complaints also allege the mayor was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a participant in the city’s youth mentorship program.
Washington said another complaint was filed by the city’s purchasing director, who alleged that the mayor reported purchases to other finance employees instead of reporting them directly to her, as required by city policy.
The investigation also includes allegations involving workplace conduct. Washington said one complaint claims the mayor told an employee they would never advance professionally within the city after a disagreement.
Washington said the city did not seek public attention for the matter and characterized the investigation as a response to concerns raised internally.
“This is something the city never tried to go public with,” Washington said. “There was never an attempt to conduct a witch hunt.”
Williams and his attorney have denied wrongdoing and maintain the allegations are unproven. They have also argued that the city moved too quickly in pursuing the investigation and have suggested the mayor is being unfairly targeted because of his age. Williams, who was elected at age 22, is among the youngest mayors in Georgia.
“I believe the allegations are simply allegations, and I stand 10 toes down,” Williams said in a previous interview.
The city maintains that the allegations under review are not criminal in nature but involve potential ethical concerns and policy violations.
An independent investigator is expected to release findings from the investigation on Sept. 12.
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