WHERE ARE THE LEADERS?
The 2026 year is going to be a make-or-break year for the new Mayor and the two new elected Council Members who will join four incumbent Council Members. Mayor Keisha Chapman and Council Members Japera Hemming and Andrea Caldwell have no governing experience will join a cast of weak incumbents. The four incumbent Council Members, according to seniority, are Dr. LaTonya Martin Rodgers (6 years), Starr Cummings (4 years), Eric Friedly (2 years), Carrie Ziegler (2 years), Treymane Mitchell (2 years), and Sean Atkins (almost 1 year).
Mayor Chapman won the election due mainly to a backlash against Candidate CM Joshua Butler. Mayor Chapman is mostly unknown. It is clear by her decision to headline and participate in an Inaugural EVENT, paid with taxpayers’ money that violated the City Charter, State and Federal Constitutions, that she is starting off on the wrong foot. CM Hemming and Caldwell demonstrated poor judgement by participating in the Event. The Mayor and the two new Councilmembers will have $10,500 to paid for Education and Training to help them learn their duties and responsibilities. Unfortunately, CM Atkins and Cummings have not used their yearly Education and Training $10,500 to help them. CM Atkins and Cummings continue to show their lack of knowledge for not following the Charter, State and Federal Constitutions. The City has paid more than $50,000 for CM Atkins’ and Cummings’ Education and Training. It is evident that they have not spent the money for its intended purpose. This has to STOP. CM Dr. Martin Rodgers and Tremayne Mitchell have shown promising leadership skills, and they must step up and work with the Mayor and other Councilmembers to guide the City through this difficult year.
East Point Residents must also step up to the plate by speaking out in support of policies/ordinances/resolutions posed by Council Members. Likewise, Residents should pay very close attention to AGENDA items and FOLLOW THE MONEY! The City Manager is the greatest problem of the Mayor and Council. I will provide proof of the AUTHORITY and POWER that the previous Mayor and Council allowed City Manager Jones to take and abuse. Let’s begin City Manager Jones using City Funds and taxpayers’ money to finance three EVENTS that violated the City Charter, State and Federal Constitutions. Taxpayers’ money was used to pay for the Employees Fall Festival, Employees Christmas Party and the Inaugural Ceremony for the new Elected Officials. Not any of these EVENTS were voted on by the previous Mayor and Council. However, they were all paid for on the Advice and Signature of City Manager Jones. Below are the INVOICES for the three EVENTS provided via Open Records Requests. I will present more information concerning the City Manager in my next article later on in the week. I will also be discussing some of the pitfalls that Mayor and Council as well as the Residents face while dealing with an overly aggressive and power-seeking City Manager.
INVOICES FOR THE EMPLOYEES FALL FESTIVAL, CHRISTMAS PARTY & INAUGURAL EVENT
Please CLICK ON EACH ITEM BELOW. When the item comes up Click On THE BLUE !
Orr 3409 Receipt – Fall Festival (Dollar Tree) $25.68
Orr 3409 Receipt – Fall Festival (Walmart) $80.23
Orr 3409 Receipt – Fall Festival (Hobby Lobby) $71.29
Orr 3409 Receipt – Fall Festival (Walmart) $54.23 (2)
Orr 3409 Fall Festival 2025 Receipts (Michelle Hebert)
Orr 3409 Xmas prizes Amazon $476.80 112125
Orr 3409 Xmas prizes Amazon $79.69 (speaker fire tablet) 112825
Orr 3409 Xmas prizes Amazon $476.80 112125
Orr 3409 Xmas prizes Best Buy $1452.67 (3754_001)
Inauguration Invoices_ORR-3625-2025-Redacted
