The head of human resources in Atlanta was terminated due to misusing her authority as a City Hall employee, as reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Tarlesha Smith was accused of promoting favoritism towards her daughter, Bridget Smith, by creating a job for her in the Office of the City Solicitor. It was revealed in a report by the Office of Inspector General that Smith retaliated against a supervisor who suggested her daughter’s dismissal. Mayor Andre Dickens, overseeing a largely corruption-free administration, has been associated with this incident as he appointed Smith and might be up for reelection in 2025.
Smith allegedly orchestrated the expedited hiring of her daughter for a compliance analyst role with a salary of nearly $52,000, despite her daughter lacking the necessary qualifications. After being hired, Bridget reportedly struggled with following instructions from the training manual and displayed disinterest by requesting remote work post-training, which her supervisor denied leading to behavioral issues like tardiness and absenteeism.
Following the supervisor’s recommendation to terminate her daughter, Smith took action against the supervisor instead. The Department of Human Resources initiated an inquiry against the supervisor, placed her on administrative leave, and sought disciplinary measures, which were not enforced. Subsequently, city lawyers commenced an investigation into Smith once allegations surfaced.
Chief Operating Officer LaChandra Burks informed city council members in a letter that Smith’s abuse of power and her negative actions towards Jennifer Johnson, the Director of the Office of the City Solicitor, were verified following a secondary investigation. Burks stressed the city’s commitment to addressing misconduct within the organization.
Smith has been relieved of her duties, as stated in the letter. While the specifics of her dismissal were not disclosed by the mayor’s office, Calvin Blackburn was named as the interim human resources commissioner during the quest for a permanent replacement for Smith.
