STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. — Stockbridge Mayor Jayden Williams is out of office after serving just nine months, following a city council vote to remove him Saturday.
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The decision comes after a city investigation into allegations that Williams misappropriated more than $4,000 and had an inappropriate relationship with an 18-year-old high school student months before being served into office.
Williams, who was elected at age 22, was the youngest mayor in Stockbridge history.
His attorney, Robert Kenner Jr., spoke exclusively with Channel 2’s Ashli Lincoln, saying Williams plans to pursue legal options and criticized the process that led to his removal.
“This whole process smells bad,” Kenner said.
Kenner argued the city did not present evidence supporting some of the allegations involving sexual misconduct and misspending.
“They did not bring one shred of evidence that while he was in office he had any type of sexual misconduct,” Kenner said.
Kenner also alleged Williams was targeted because of his age and sexual orientation.
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Stockbridge City Attorney Quinton Washington defended the city’s actions, saying the city followed the authority granted to the council under the city charter.
“At the end of the day, the charter does give the right for three council members to decide to remove the mayor,” Washington said.
Washington said both sides were given four hours to present arguments, call witnesses and conduct cross-examinations during the removal hearing.
“We had people there to testify about all of this stuff, but we saw that it wasn’t necessary, and so we didn’t have them come up and testify,” Washington said.
With Williams removed, the mayor pro tem, Councilman Elton Alexander, will assume the mayoral duties while the city works with the Henry County registrar’s office to schedule a special election.
Washington said the election should take place within six months.
The city attorney also rejected criticism that councilmembers could have imposed a lesser penalty.
“When people ask about whether or not that we had the ability to do something less, that’s not what the charter says. And we have to abide by the charter in this situation,” Washington said.
Williams has 30 days to appeal his removal.
The city also plans to publicly release evidence related to the investigation but has not set a date for releasing those records.
Lincoln spoke with Williams outside of City Hall Monday as he was clearing out his office. He declined doing an interview at this time.
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