Jonesboro Mayor Donya Sartor retracts resignation hours later

JONESBORO, Ga. - Nearly 10 hours after announcing to the Jonesboro City Council her plans to retire, Mayor Donya Sartor has had a change of heart.

The mayor's initial announcements came at the end of a special meeting called on Thursday.

Mayor Donya Sartor resigns

What we know:

Dr. Donya Sartor's resignation announcement was made around 1 p.m. after a special called meeting. The only thing on the agenda was an executive session to discuss "personnel matters."

Just after 11 p.m., a spokesperson for Sartor contacted FOX 5 to explain she would be retracting the resignation.

"After speaking with numerous residents and business owners and other stakeholders in the city of Jonesboro, I have changed my mind, and I will not offer a resignation as mayor," the mayor wrote in a statement late Thursday.

She went on to explain that her emotional resignation came about due to stress. "I was under undue stress by several colleagues who may have nefarious reasons for trying to force me out of my duly elected position," she wrote. ". 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."

Earlier in the day, 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 the city council. It came 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 GBI probe, and a police chief fired. Sartor denies any wrongdoing.

"Accordingly, and under Georgia state law and the Charter of the City of Jonesboro, there is no vacancy in the mayor's office, and there is no resignation from the mayor," the mayor wrote. "Secondly, it came to my attention via a social media post that some members of the Council have called a special called meeting of the Council for tomorrow, Friday, at 6 p.m. to accept my resignation. First, according to state law and the city charter, there can be no special called meeting without first providing the mayor and council members with 48 hours personal notice. That notice would have had to be delivered personally to me and all council members by Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 6 p.m. Therefore, I will not be attending an unlawful meeting, and there can be no lawful meeting of the Council tomorrow evening to accept a resignation that does not exist."

Mayor Sartor addresses council

What they're saying:

"I'd like to present before Mayor Pro Tem and counsel, I'm rendering my resignation as mayor of the city of Jonesboro," the mayor told the council on Thursday. "Although, there have been no specific accusations against me by the council of wrongdoing."

"I don't quit and this isn't quitting. I chose myself. Well, I'll continue to serve in other capacities that benefit this beautiful community I call home," she said.

In a council meeting on Monday, Sartor said she wanted the audit to look at transactions from the previous administration as well. "So, I would prefer a whole year because there could be some things that look suspicious in ‘23, which actually was indicative of 2022 before I became mayor," she said. 

Sartor said earlier on Thursday the reason she wanted to stay on until April 19 was to see the audit through and be cleared of any wrongdoing. "I selected this day so I can specifically, so I can fully cooperate with the requested forensic audit. Although there's no there's been no specific allegations against me from counsel regarding any wrongdoing," she said. "It's important that my tenure concludes with those findings of no wrongdoing or mismanagement of funds."

The other side:

"Not only surprised myself, I think everybody in the room was kind of like, Whoa, what?" said Jonesboro City Council member Don Dixon.

As for if the members of the city council wanted Sartor to step down or not, Dixon says it came as a surprise. "You never want anyone to step down. So, and I don't think we did, like I say, we were working, you know, and I don't care what city you go to, you're going to find some tension on the city council," Dixon said.

Dixon says he thought they were beginning to resolve some of those issues and work better together. "We were all discussing it and everything else, and we were working stuff out and, you know, so yeah, it kind of came up, and it was like, 'Hey, hey, what's going on? You know?'" he said.

As for whether the audit had anything to do with the mayor's initial decision to stand aside, Dixon said he did not know, but he doesn't believe the audit will be complete by April 19.

Embattled Jonesboro mayor

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.

Who is Dr. Donya Sartor?

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.

What's next:

The city is in the process of finding an accounting firm to perform a forensic audit on the city’s finances and, more specifically, the charge cards used by employees and elected officials.

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

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