Atlanta City Fires HR Director for ‘Preferential Treatment’ of Daughter

article

ATLANTA – Atlanta’s human resources director has been fired for abusing her power as a city employee by “encouraging preferential treatment” of her daughter, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. reported.

The Office of Inspector General released a report in May alleging that Tarlesha Smith created a position in the city attorney’s office for her daughter, Bridget Smith. The report found that Smith retaliated against a supervisor who recommended her daughter’s termination.

Atlanta City Hall has a history of corruption scandals. Mayor Andre Dickens, who appointed Smith and is likely running for re-election in 2025, has led a largely clean administration.

THE report claims Smith created a compliance analyst position with a salary of nearly $52,000 and fast-tracked the hiring process for his daughter even though she didn’t have the qualifications for the job, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Once hired, the girl misunderstood the training manual’s instructions about working on-site, and when a supervisor denied her request to telework after she completed the training, the girl became “disengaged” and “demonstrated tardiness and absenteeism,” the report said.

When the girl’s supervisor suggested firing her, the Department of Human Resources launched an investigation into the supervisor, placed her on administrative leave, and sought disciplinary action against her, which was denied.

RELATED NEWS: Atlanta Human Resources Commissioner Placed on Leave Over Nepotism Allegations

City attorneys launched their own investigation into Smith after the inspector general’s report was released.

City Chief Operating Officer LaChandra Burks said in a letter to City Council members Thursday that the Law Department confirmed Smith’s abuse of power and that the second investigation revealed Smith’s “adverse action” against the girl’s supervisor, City Attorney Director Jennifer Johnson.

“We take allegations of wrongdoing very seriously, especially if they involve a leader of the organization,” Burks wrote, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Smith has been fired, according to the letter. The mayor’s office did not provide further information about her firing, but a spokesperson identified Calvin Blackburn as the interim human resources commissioner while the city searches for a permanent replacement for Smith.