Jonesboro Mayor Sues to Halt Council Probe
The Jonesboro City Council voted unanimously to hire a special council to investigate allegations against Mayor Donya Sartor, who has filed a court action to stop the probe.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in City Hall
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The Jonesboro City Council unanimously voted to hire a special council to investigate allegations of misconduct against Mayor Donya Sartor, and the resolution says removal proceedings could begin if the investigation confirms the allegations. Sartor has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the investigation.
Why it matters
The city says the mayor may have executed contracts without council approval, failed to ensure contract compliance, interfered with council directives and failed to comply with purchasing rules, while the council says the probe is about safeguarding the city. The dispute could determine whether the mayor faces removal from office in Jonesboro, Georgia.
The city has hired two outside law firms for about $100,000 to pursue removal, compared with the $700,000 it spent on a removal effort three years ago. The allegations remain unconfirmed, and the special council's findings and the court's ruling on the mayor's lawsuit are still pending.
The players
Donya Sartor
Donya Sartor is the mayor of Jonesboro, Georgia, a city in Clayton County.
Jonesboro City Council
The Jonesboro City Council is the legislative body governing the city of Jonesboro, Georgia.
The details
The Jonesboro City Council unanimously voted to hire a special council to look into allegations against Mayor Donya Sartor, including claims of unauthorized surveillance of workers and others and abuse of law enforcement powers and threats against workers, which are allegations not yet established. Sartor filed a court action to stop the investigation.
Timeline
Three years ago: the city spent $700,000 trying to remove the mayor.
November 12, 2026: the mayor filed the lawsuit and the council voted to hire the special investigating council.
Political Context
The city's current removal push follows a similar effort three years ago that cost $700,000, while this round involves hiring two outside law firms for about $100,000. The mayor's lawsuit challenges the council's authority to proceed with the investigation.
Jonesboro residents may see the outcome of the council investigation and the court's ruling on the mayor's lawsuit affect how city contracts and purchasing are overseen. The possibility of removal proceedings could change who leads city government.
The takeaway
Allegations against a public official remain unproven until an investigation or court reaches a finding, and the outcome of the Jonesboro dispute will depend on that process.
Further reading
For more on local government disputes, see City Hall coverage in Jonesboro.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta.
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