Metro Atlanta mayor files lawsuit over city council’s misconduct investigation

A mayor says she has filed a lawsuit to stop the city council from investigating her and possibly trying to remove her from her position.

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The Jonesboro City Council voted unanimously to hire a special council to look into allegations of misconduct by Mayor Dr. Donya Sartor, Channel 2’s Tom Jones reported.

The resolution that passed indicates the council could begin removal proceedings if the investigation confirms allegations of misconduct. The mayor says the council’s vote to begin an investigation is illegal and politically motivated.

“This is the fourth witch hunt that is costing taxpayer money,” Sartor said, referring to previous efforts to remove her.

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But Mayor Pro-Tem Asjah Miller said there are no witches on the council. And she says they’ve tried censuring and publicly reprimanding the mayor to get her to follow the policies and rules. But nothing works, she says.

“And there are problems that we are seeing again,” Miller said. “And this is just an inquiry into those problems and an effort to safeguard the city.”

The city says the mayor may have executed contracts without council approval, failed to ensure contract compliance, interfered with council directives and failed to comply with purchasing rules.

“Mayor Sartor may have increased budgeted personnel salaries without the council’s knowledge or approval,” Miller said.

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And it’s alleged she conducted unauthorized surveillance on workers and others, abused law enforcement powers and threatened workers.

Sartor called the investigation and possible effort to remove her illegal and said she has filed a court action to stop it.

She said the council has a right to go down this road: “But that route costs money when we have an impartial standing ethics committee already in place.”

Sartor says the city has already spent $700,000 trying to remove her three years ago. And now she says the city has hired two outside law firms for about $100,000 to get her out now. She said that money could be better served helping citizens.

Councilmembers say this is about safeguarding the city. One councilmember said the fact the previous council wanted to remove the mayor over allegations of misconduct and now this body could do the same speaks to the issues that brought everyone to the special called meeting.

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