Stockbridge City Council Removes Mayor Jayden Williams From Office

The Stockbridge City Council voted 3-0 on September 14, 2026, to impeach and remove Jayden Williams from office. The decision came less than a year after Williams became the youngest mayor in Georgia's history. The council cited malfeasance, misfeasance, and violation of his oath of office as the grounds for removal.

Investigations revealed Williams misused a city purchasing card for over $4,000 in personal expenses, including clothing, meals, movie tickets, and haircuts, and spent $2,600 on gas for personal use. Williams testified that the expenditures were unintentional mistakes caused by the similarity in color between his city and personal cards, noting he has since reimbursed the city.

Williams also faced allegations of exchanging sexually explicit messages and nude photos with an 18-year-old high school student. While police determined no criminal laws were broken because the student was legally an adult, the conduct triggered administrative and ethical reviews. Williams asserted the communication began before he took office in January 2026 and denied the student was part of a city mentorship program, though an outside law firm investigation suggested the exchanges occurred while discussing the student's potential involvement in such a program.

Additional accusations included the creation of a hostile work environment, with reports that Williams yelled at staff and changed office locks to force employees to slide documents under the door. His attorney, Robert Kenner, argued the conduct did not justify removal.