When Transparency is Replaced with Silencing Tactics
- Samantha Hudson
- Aug 8
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 9
By Councilwoman Samantha L. Hudson
On August 6, 2025, I received a letter from Mayor Mario Avery notifying me of an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaint filed by the City Clerk, Brenda James. The complaint included allegations such as “constant harassment” through emails, “false and defamatory statements” to the Georgia Attorney General and on social media, “age-based remarks,” and “creating a hostile work environment.”
The letter went further — it issued me a Cease and Desist Directive ordering that I have no direct contact with the City Clerk in any form, including email, phone, text, in-person conversation, or even social media references. All my communications to the Clerk’s office must now be routed through the Mayor himself.
Here’s the problem:
Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3) and the City Charter, I am an elected official — not a City employee.
The Mayor’s letter even admits that elected officials are expressly excluded from the City’s Personnel Policy coverage.
Yet, he still used that policy as the justification for restricting my access to the Clerk — a key part of my ability to do legislative work for you, the residents.
This isn’t about protecting employees — it’s about controlling information and isolating an elected representative from the people and processes I’m sworn to serve. It’s also important to note that I have a documented history of raising concerns about government transparency, ethics, and legal compliance. Restricting my access to information, and placing all my communication under the Mayor’s control, raises serious concerns about retaliation under O.C.G.A. § 45-1-4 (Georgia Whistleblower Act).
The Mayor’s letter also warns that breaking his directive could lead to censure, reprimand, ethics complaints, or other “lawful remedies.” In plain language: comply or be punished.
Why should this matter to you?
Because this is not just about me. If a sitting Councilmember can be silenced, isolated, and stripped of direct access to City staff without due process, anyone who challenges the status quo could be next — whether they are an elected official, a city employee, or a resident speaking out.
Government works best when it is open, transparent, and accountable. This kind of conduct sends the opposite message: Speak up, and we will find a way to silence you.
I will continue to carry out my duties under the law, represent the interests of the residents of Fairburn, and fight for transparency — both inside and outside the Council chambers.
Your voice matters. If you care about fairness, due process, and open government, now is the time to pay attention.
— Councilwoman Samantha Hudson
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