Three Hoschton city officials, including the mayor, are now out of their respective posts after a special called meeting of the city council Saturday evening.
City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Cleveland submitted his resignation in writing to the city council on Tuesday, according to Atlanta media reports.
Mayor Teresa Kenerly announced her resignation Friday, and so did City Administrator Dale Hall. At the meeting, the remaining city council members voted to accept Kenerly and Cleveland's resignations. The council also voted to remove Hall rather than accept his resignation.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, councilman Adam Ledbetter was appointed as the city's mayor pro-tem by the council until a special election can be held the fill the mayor seat.
Cleveland and Kenerly had been facing a recall election on Jan. 14, 2020. The two had been under fire since May. At the time, the city was in the process of hiring a new city administrator. Kenerly reportedly withheld the resume of a black applicant for the job, saying the city "was not ready" for a black man to hold a leadership position in Hoschton. Cleveland came to Kenerly's defense. In an interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution, he told a reporter he opposed interracial marriage, which sparked more ire among voters.
A date for a special election to fill the now-vacant council and mayor seats has not been released.
Teresa Kenerly (left) and Jim Cleveland (right) both submitted their resignations this week rather than face a Jan. 14 recall.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2019/12/859809/hoschton-elected-leaders-set-special-meeting-following-resignation-of-mayor-city-administrator