Latest news with #DonyaSartor
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Residents show support for Jonesboro mayor amid questions over resignation withdrawal
The Brief Jonesboro city leaders continued to clash on Monday at the city council's regularly scheduled meeting. It was the first meeting since the mayor resigned and then swiftly rescinded her resignation last week. Donya Sartor is still mayor for now, but some council members questioned the legality of that as an audit over city spending looms. JONESBORO, Ga. - A power struggle in Jonesboro continued on Monday night at the city's first formal council meeting since Mayor Donya Sartor resigned abruptly last week and withdrew that resignation hours later. The fate of city leadership is still hanging in the balance with questions about the legality of that move. What we know Mayor Donya Sartor is still in office after withdrawing her resignation last Thursday. That resignation was supposed to be effective April 19. Sartor made the tearful resignation announcement at a specially-called meeting, but hours later said she changed her mind about the decision. Sartor cited a 1960s Georgia Attorney General opinion, which states that public officials can withdraw a resignation before it's accepted unless it was effective immediately. The mayor says the abrupt resignation came under duress by several of her colleagues. SEE MORE:Jonesboro mayor explains why she decided not to resign Council members were poised to accept her resignation at the meeting Monday night. Dixon says he believes the council has until April 19 to vote to accept Sartor's resignation, and that there could be legal action taken. What they're saying Dozens of Jonesboro and Clayton County residents packed inside the Jonesboro City Center for Monday's regularly scheduled council meeting to have their say on whether Sartor should stay or go. Many came in with signs and seemingly came to Sartor's defense —accusing council members of bullying her during public comments. A few residents stated they were disappointed with the council and mayor's inability to work together. Others made it clear they stood by her leadership. "The Bible says a house divided against itself cannot stand … We must find a way … We have elected a mayor and a city council," one resident said. "A few hours later you retracted it … This is why everyone's here and in an uproar … You started it," another woman told Sartor. "You guys may not support her, but Clayton County and Jonesboro will continue to support her," another resident said. Dig deeper The city has been working to find a firm for a forensic audit, separate from its regular annual audit, on the city's finances and the charge cards used by employees and elected officials. Councilman Don Dixon told FOX 5 that council members recently learned about budget inconsistencies but didn't specify who he felt may have been responsible. "You're looking at $450,000 in the last three or four months that they weren't, and this is something that we're blindsided by," he explained. Sartor denied any wrongdoing and said she had originally planned to stay until the audit was complete. She maintained she had nothing to hide. "I'm up under the premise that my withdrawal is legal, and I stand before you as the mayor of the City of Jonesboro, and nothing can change that right now," she said. "We asked on the record if there were some clear allegations that you have, and they were not presented for us. I am just as concerned as anyone else that our numbers are in line, and I can assure you that they are," she added. City officials voted Monday to approve a regular audit of its FY22 and FY23 spending and present the findings to a forensic auditor who could examine the specific area of concern for council members. The Source FOX 5's Joi Dukes reported this story out of Jonesboro.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jonesboro City Council takes no action on mayor's resignation
Jonesboro City Councilmembers met for the first time Monday evening since the mayor announced her resignation, then rescinded it. Some council members thought her original resignation should stand, but the mayor said she's finishing out her term. People packed the council room at the Jonesboro City Center for the meeting. Many people showed up to support Mayor Donya Sartor, including the city of South Fulton's embattled mayor, Khalid Kamau. However, some people said the infighting is making the city look bad. 'Frankly, it's embarrassing,' said former city councilman, Ed Wise. 'We're tired of seeing the negative press.' In a special meeting on Thursday, Sartor announced she was resigning. However, the next day, she withdrew her resignation. 'Being just reminded of how I got in this place, and those things that played a factor in me even considering that, are no longer in play,' Sartor said. Originally, Sartor gave a date of April 19 because she said the city council had called for a forensic audit of Jonesboro's finances. While she said there have been no allegations of wrongdoing, she wanted to cooperate with the audit by stepping down. At Monday's meeting, the council voted to proceed with their regular annual audit, and if something comes up during that audit, then they'll move forward with looking into a forensic audit. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As for the resignation, the council didn't take any action on that. 'It was really encouraging for them not to try to,' Sartor said. 'Today would have been a great opportunity for them to do that.' When Channel 2′s Eryn Rogers asked what was next, she was told it's a game of 'wait and see'. 'To me, it's very clear what the state law says, a resignation unless rendered to be immediate, you have to vote on it and accept, they did not take that opportunity,' Sartor said. However, Councilman Don Dixon said they can still call a special meeting to take a vote on accepting her original resignation. 'The way I look at it is it was voted on because the way she did that, it was in writing, in a public meeting, and no councilmember said anything, so that can be accepted,' Dixon said. Sartor was elected the city's first Black mayor in March 2023. The mayor has found herself at the center of controversy before. Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln first reported on allegations of misconduct after councilmembers voted to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of abuse of power and misuse of city resources. She said the allegations were nothing more than an attempt to discredit her leadership. In September 2023, she was accused of pointing a loaded gun at a police officer, but the Georgia Bureau of Investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing. Sartor also received criticism for firing a police officer who was involved in the investigation against her, as well as the police chief. She said replacing officials like the police chief is not uncommon when a new mayor takes office. Rogers also confirmed Monday night another high-level city leader is turning in their resignation this week because of the turmoil. TRENDING STORIES: Teen flips attacker during brawl over prom dress in Gwinnett, police say GA church daycare employee accused of giving Benadryl to toddlers to make them go to sleep Ex-Atlanta Falcons linebacker sentenced for swindling victims out of $5.3 million in Ponzi scheme [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jonesboro Mayor Donya Sartor walks back her resignation
Hours after she announced that she would step down, Jonesboro Mayor Donya Sartor now says she will not resign. Channel 2′s Tom Jones was there on Thursday as Sartor tearfully announced at a special called meeting that her last day would be April 19. But on Friday morning, Sartor walked back her resignation, saying it doesn't exist. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'I was under duress by several colleagues who may have nefarious reasons for trying to force me out of my duly elected position. I believe that although it would be personally favorable to my family and me, I cannot, in my heart, let down the thousands of citizens who are depending on me to fulfill and complete the term of office to which they elected me,' she said in a statement. Sartor is expected to speak at a news conference at 10 a.m. This is a developing story. We'll have the latest on Channel 2 Action News This Morning. TRENDING STORIES: Major crash shuts down all I-75/I-85 SB lanes in midtown Atlanta Metro Atlanta college football player dies after battle with cancer, team says Man dead after shooting inside DeKalb County apartment complex lobby The mayor has found herself at the center of controversy before. Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln first reported on allegations of misconduct after councilmembers voted to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of abuse of power and misuse of city resources. She said the allegations were nothing more than an attempt to discredit her leadership. In Sept. 2023, she was accused of pointing a loaded gun at a police officer, but the Georgia Bureau of Investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing. Sartor also received criticism for firing a police officer who was involved in the investigation against her, as well as the police chief. She said replacing officials like the police chief are not uncommon when a new mayor takes office. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jonesboro Mayor Donya Sartor resigns
The Brief Mayor Donya Sartor has resigned following a city council vote for a forensic audit of the city's finances, although she denies any wrongdoing. Sartor's tenure as Jonesboro's first Black mayor, beginning in March 2023, has been marked by both community initiatives and political challenges. Tensions between Sartor and the city council have been evident, with accusations of unprofessional conduct and racial bias, highlighting a power struggle within the city's administration. JONESBORO, Ga. - The ongoing tension between Jonesboro Mayor Donya Sartor and the city council seems to have reached a boiling point this week. The FOX 5 I-Team has learned that the embattled mayor has resigned during a public meeting on Thursday morning What we know The news came hours after a special called meeting. The only thing on the agenda was an executive session to discuss "personnel matters." An emotional sartor told council members she's leaving, but not until a forensic audit of city finances is finished. That audit was requested by city council. Her resignation comes amid a series of controversies and rising tensions between the mayor and council. There's been litigation between them, an internal investigation of the mayor, a g-b-i probe, and a police chief fired. Sartor denies any wrongdoing. Her last day is April 19. What they're saying "I'm rendering my resignation as the mayor of the city of Jonesboro... April 19, 2025. I specifically selected this date so I could fully cooperate with the requested forensic audit," the mayor told the council on Thursday. "Although, there have been no specific accusations against me by the council of wrongdoing." She added that she wants her tenure to not be mired in accusations. Timeline Dr. Donya L. Sartor, a Georgia native and long-time resident of Jonesboro, has been leading the city as mayor since March 2023. Her tenure has been marked by both community initiatives and political turbulence. In March 2023, Sartor made history by becoming Jonesboro's first Black mayor, securing the position with over 260 votes in a special election. A resident of the city for more than two decades, she previously served on the city council, demonstrating a commitment to public service and community development. Sartor's tenure has not been without challenges. In late 2023, allegations surfaced accusing her of pointing a firearm at a police lieutenant during an office meeting. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called to examine the claims. Sartor acknowledged handling the firearm but firmly denied any threatening actions, suggesting the allegations were politically motivated. Subsequently, the GBI found insufficient evidence to charge her, and the matter was not presented to a grand jury. Tensions between Sartor and the city council have also come to the forefront. In November 2023, a work session devolved into a heated exchange, with council members accusing the mayor of unprofessional conduct and Sartor alleging racial bias among her colleagues. The discord highlighted a broader power struggle within the city's administration, with council members and the mayor debating the city's governance structure and the formation of an ethics committee. Late last month, Jonesboro Police Chief Todd Coyt and Assistant Chief Audrey Dunlap abruptly resigned. It remains unclear whether their resignations are related to the ongoing tensions within the city's administration. Dig deeper With a robust background in education spanning over 25 years, Sartor holds a Bachelor of Arts from Emory University, a Master of Arts from Clark Atlanta University, and a Doctorate in Education from Georgia State University. Her educational endeavors have informed her approach to leadership, emphasizing community involvement and support. Sartor advocates for diversified housing, expanded internet access, and policies to protect green spaces while promoting the development of sidewalks and bike lanes. Her administration emphasizes fair and equal representation, seeking to collaborate with citizens, organizations, and businesses to foster economic development and community progress. As mayor, Sartor has spearheaded several initiatives aimed at uplifting the community. These include organizing annual school supply giveaways, launching the "Adopt-A-Senior Citizen for the Holidays" program in collaboration with the Jonesboro Police Department, and hosting the city's inaugural Juneteenth celebration. She has also partnered with organizations such as the Atlanta Food Bank and Clayton County Public Schools to provide essential services like food distribution and housing assistance. SEE ALSO: Jonesboro police chief, assistant chief have resigned, officials say Meeting meltdown: Screaming match caught on camera as Jonesboro's mayor and council battle for power Jonesboro mayor fires police chief, effective immediately Audit sparked by FOX 5 I-Team investigation finds city issued 1,200 false speeding tickets Jonesboro officer claims firing was retaliation for speaking out about mayor The Source FOX 5 spoke with multiple sources, including members of the Jonesboro City Council. Additional details come from official council meetings. Previous FOX 5 reporting was also used.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jonesboro mayor resigns as council calls for audit of city's finances
Jonesboro Mayor Donya Sartor is resigning, she announced in a special called meeting on Thursday afternoon. Sartor says the city council has called for a forensic audit of Jonesboro's finances. While she says there have been no allegations of wrongdoing, she wants to cooperate with the audit by stepping down. She added tearfully that she wants to leave office with no impropriety on her record. Sartor's last day in office will be April 19. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] She was elected the city's first Black mayor in March 2023. The mayor has found herself at the center of controversy before. Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln first reported on allegations of misconduct after councilmembers voted to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of abuse of power and misuse of city resources. She said the allegations were nothing more than an attempt to discredit her leadership. RELATED STORIES: Jonesboro mayor fires police chief Jonesboro mayor responds to firing of police chief as she's sworn in to serve new term Former Jonesboro police sergeant says he was fired for speaking against mayor during investigation DA's office says there's 'insufficient evidence' that Jonesboro mayor pulled gun on officer Jonesboro mayor says allegations of misconduct are just a political witch hunt Jonesboro mayor accused of pointing loaded gun at city employee In September 2023, she was accused of pointing a loaded gun at a police officer, but the Georgia Bureau of Investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing. Sartor also received criticism for firing a police officer who was involved in the investigation against her, as well as the police chief. She said replacing officials like the police chief are not uncommon when a new mayor takes office. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
