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The youngest mayor of a Georgia city made history when he was elected last year, but his administration is off to a rocky start after he was stripped of several privileges during an investigation into alleged spending habits.
The Stockbridge City Council voted on Friday to restrict Mayor Jayden Williams, 22, from his access to city vehicles, his city credit card, nonpublic city facilities and communication with city employees.
Williams was also asked to return city-issued keys and access cards. On Tuesday, the council hired an independent investigator to review Williams' spending habits.
The special council vote was held after the city manager's office reported suspicious activity associated with Williams' spending, Mayor Pro Tem Elton Alexander told Atlanta News First.
Williams released a statement later that day, announcing that he will now be taking legal action to ensure the city follows a 'fair, open, and transparent process.'
'Mayor Williams welcomes a full and independent investigation and looks forward to the opportunity to address any allegations through the proper process,' his statement said.
'At the same time, fairness requires that no conclusions be reached and no punishment be imposed before the facts are established and he has been afforded an opportunity to respond.'
Even though Williams has been restricted from some mayoral perks, he still retains his responsibilities as mayor.
The council added that the restrictions are not disciplinary and are temporary while the investigation is underway.
Alexander said Williams did not show up on Monday to return his cards, but that they could still be deactivated remotely.
The specific allegations on what Williams may have used the funding for and how much have yet to be disclosed.
'I don’t think I have added it up and certainly, if it’s one dollar, the city doesn’t differentiate how much. It’s taxpayer dollars and we’re supposed to be good stewards of the taxpayer money,' Alexander told Atlanta News First.
The Mayor Pro Tem said that he anticipates the investigation to take around 30-45 days. City officials have not disclosed who the third-party investigator is.
Stockbridge is a suburb outside of Atlanta with a population of less than 30,000. The mayor's position is only part-time.
However, Williams' colleagues have confessed that the mayor's day job is unclear. 'I’m not sure if he has a job at this point,' Alexander told NBC News.
'A lot of us have asked that question — whether or not he has a job.'
Williams defeated the odds last election cycle by beating incumbent Anthony Ford with less than 500 votes, and was sworn in just six months ago.
The young mayor was a fresh graduate of Clark Atlanta University, having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He became the youngest African American mayor in Georgia's history.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Williams and Alexander for an update on the investigation.
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