Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ office has announced that outgoing Augusta City Administrator Odie Donald has accepted a job as chief of staff.
Donald is a native of Atlanta and served as city administrator for South Fulton County until accepting the position of city administrator for Augusta in November 2020.
Dickens was elected mayor of Atlanta in 2021 in a tight run-off. The incumbent mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, declined to seek a second term after suffering a major backlash for eliminating cash bail in Atlanta and advocating the criminal prosecution of a White police officer, Garrett Rolfe, who shot and killed Rayshard Brooks, a Black man, even after the officer was cleared by the Atlanta Civil Services Board.
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The shooting of Brooks led to several days of rioting in Atlanta.
“Mayor Dickens has one of the most ambitious agendas of any mayor in the country. To return to my hometown to join the team that will bring that agenda to fruition is a full-circle moment for me, and I am excited to get going,” Donald was quoted in the press release from Dickens’ office.
Donald’s resignation came to many as a shock. On the evening of Feb. 1, Donald phoned several commissioners to announce his intent to resign, and a formal letter was presented to the Augusta Commission the following day.
According to the press release, Donald will begin the position on Feb. 28; however, the salary he will be paid was not immediately released.
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According to Donald’s contract with the city of Augusta, his salary as city administrator was to be $240,000 plus a $600 a month car allowance. The city also paid Donald $10,000 up front for moving expenses.
District 8 Commissioner Brandon Garrett says that Donald has, so far, not asked for any type of severance pay, but any such request would be made in executive session.
The commission’s next meeting of committees is Feb.8.
Donald, who has enjoyed widespread support from the commission, may ask for severance even though his contract specifies that he must give a 45 day notice or forfeit any severance package.
However, Donald’s predecessor, Janice Jackson, received a year’s pay and benefits when she abruptly resigned in 2019.
Scott Hudson is the senior reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
