Legal battle heats up as city prepares for high-stakes investigative hearing
The Stockbridge City Council has initiated an investigative hearing scheduled for August 15, 2026, which functions much like a trial. Following a 4-1 vote, the council plans to review evidence regarding the mayor’s alleged misuse of city-issued purchasing and fuel cards, totaling over $4,000 in questioned expenditures, as well as allegations of sexual misconduct.
The council has also voted to release the gathered evidence to the public to ensure transparency. In response, Mayor Williams has filed an emergency motion in Henry County Superior Court, seeking to halt the August 15 hearing. His attorney, Robert Kenner Jr., argues that the council’s proceedings violate the city charter because the mayor has not been provided with formal written notice of the charges, the investigator’s final report, or a witness list, effectively denying him a fair opportunity to prepare a defense.
Allegations of Misconduct
The investigation, which began in July, originally centered on the misuse of city credit cards and the unauthorized retention of a city vehicle for nearly 200 days. Mayor Williams has consistently denied these claims, characterizing them as a politically motivated attack. He maintains that his use of the city vehicle was authorized and that his credit card expenditures were misrepresented.
The allegation of sexual misconduct was introduced after the initial financial probe began. Mayor Williams has expressed confusion regarding the origin of this specific claim, stating during a July livestream that he had no prior knowledge of such allegations until they appeared in correspondence from the council.
