Atlanta mayor appoints interim inspector general LaDawn Blackett

Judge LaDawn Blackett has been appointed as the interim inspector general for the City of Atlanta, following the resignation of Shannon Manigault, who cited threats and bullying as reasons for her departure. Mayor Andre Dickens emphasized the importance of maintaining ethics within the city government and expressed confidence in Blackett's ability to lead the office temporarily. Blackett, a municipal court judge with extensive legal experience, will assume her role on March 3, 2025, until a new seven-member governing board is established to appoint a full-time inspector general. The previous board's majority resigned alongside Manigault, leading to concerns about the independence of the inspector general's office. The ongoing tensions between the inspector general's office and the Dickens administration, including accusations of sabotage, highlight the challenges faced in governance. As Blackett steps into her role, city officials hope to restore stability and integrity within the office amid these controversies.