Georgia Mayor Removed After 10 Months in Office

By Sandra Rhodes (/journals/sandra-rhodes)

Georgia’s youngest elected mayor only lasted 10 months in office after allegations that he misused city funds and exchanged sexually suggestive messages and images with an 18-year-old high school student came to light.

Jayden Williams, 23, was impeached by the Stockbridge City Council. He took office in January when he was 22.

"The City of Stockbridge confirms that the City Council has taken formal action concerning the Office of Mayor," the city said in a statement Sunday. "The Mayor has been removed from office."

The misuse of funds allegation involve Williams allegedly using his city purchasing card for more than $4,000 in personal expenses. These included restaurant meals, clothing, haircuts and a movie, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. He reportedly spent $2,600 on gas and used a city vehicle for personal purposes.

The lavish spending was reported after city workers noticed unusual transactions involving public funds. They then notified management and the city’s legal team.

According to Williams’ testimony, he did not intend to use city funds and later repaid the money, Fox 5 reported. He said the city’s card looked similar to his personal card. He later replaced the cards to avoid future confusion, the outlet reported.

Williams was also accused of exchanging sexually suggestive messages and explicit images with an 18-year-old male high school student.

A police report revealed Williams did not break the law because the student was considered an adult under Georgia law. There were ethical ethical concerns about an elected official's interactions with a student in what investigators described as a city-affiliated mentorship program, Fox 5 reported.

In a statement, Williams previously said he met the individual before taking office.

"The individual was 18 years old at the time of our communication, meaning we were both adults. I met this individual on November 30, 2025, and our online communication occurred before I was sworn into office in January 2026," he said.

Williams became the youngest mayor in Georgia history as he ran for office while still attending Clark Atlanta University.

He was subsequently stripped of certain official privileges on July 17 as the investigation was underway. He was never criminally charged in connection with the alleged conduct.