To: The Mayor and Members of the Washington, Georgia City Council

We, the undersigned residents, citizens, taxpayers, and concerned members of the Washington, Georgia community, respectfully petition the Mayor and City Council to remove Donald “Will” Long from the position of City Administrator and initiate a comprehensive, independent investigation into allegations and documented concerns involving his qualifications, alleged sexual misconduct, potential financial misconduct, use of municipal authority, and the administration of public resources.

This petition is not about political party affiliation. It is about whether an individual entrusted with significant governmental authority continues to satisfy the standards of integrity, qualification, accountability, and public trust expected of the City's chief administrative officer.

1. Questions Concerning Educational Credentials and Qualifications 

Publicly available reporting and documentation have raised questions concerning whether Mr. Long represented that he possessed a bachelor's degree when records indicate that the degree was not conferred.

The issue is particularly significant because the City's City Administrator position carries substantial executive and financial responsibilities, including management of City departments, preparation of the annual budget, advising the Mayor and Council concerning financial conditions and future needs, and ensuring City operations comply with applicable requirements.

The public therefore deserves a clear answer regarding:

What educational credentials were represented during the hiring process;
What credentials were actually verified by the City;
Whether a bachelor's degree was a required qualification;
Whether the City independently verified the information contained in the application and résumé;
Whether the information provided materially affected the hiring decision; and
Whether the City would have selected the same candidate had the complete educational record been known.
If a material qualification was falsely or inaccurately represented, the City Council should determine whether that representation violated applicable City policies, ordinances, employment requirements, ethics provisions, or other applicable law.

2. Allegations of Sexual Misconduct and Boundary Violations

There have been allegations concerning inappropriate personal communications, unwanted sexual advances, sexually explicit communications, and violations of professional boundaries involving Mr. Long and a person conducting contracted work for the City.

These allegations have been publicly reported, and an ethics complaint concerning alleged misconduct was filed against Mr. Long. Reporting further indicates that the City Council considered a motion concerning his resignation in December 2025.

These allegations should not be treated as established facts without a proper investigation.

However, serious allegations involving the City's chief administrative officer cannot simply be ignored.

We therefore demand:

A fair and independent investigation into the allegations;
Preservation and review of relevant emails, text messages, photographs, complaints, investigative records, and other documentation;
A determination of whether City policies, ethics requirements, employment policies, or applicable law were violated;
A public accounting of the investigative process and its conclusions, subject to legally protected information; and
Appropriate disciplinary action, including removal, if the evidence substantiates misconduct.

3. Possible Misappropriation or Misuse of Public Funds

The public also deserves an independent examination of any financial transactions, expenditures, reimbursements, contracts, purchasing decisions, or use of City resources in which Mr. Long may have had involvement or decision-making authority and which have raised questions concerning the proper use of public funds.

This petition does not declare that Mr. Long has been proven to have misappropriated City funds.

Rather, we are demanding that allegations and documentary discrepancies concerning the use, authorization, management, or disposition of public funds be independently investigated.

The investigation should determine whether there is evidence of:

Misappropriation or unauthorized use of City funds;
Improper expenditures;
Unauthorized reimbursements or payments;
Improper use of municipal purchasing mechanisms;
Conflicts of interest;
Financial transactions lacking a legitimate governmental purpose;
Improper authorization or approval of expenditures;
Alteration, manipulation, or inaccurate representation of financial records;
Failure to maintain appropriate documentation; or
Violations of City purchasing, financial-management, ethics, or recordkeeping requirements.
Every dollar belonging to Washington's taxpayers deserves accountability.

4. Questions Concerning the Administration of City Government

The City Administrator is not an ordinary municipal employee. The City's own job announcement places the position in a central role overseeing City departments, managing available resources, preparing the annual budget, advising elected officials concerning financial conditions, and monitoring compliance with state and federal requirements. That level of authority requires an exceptionally high degree of public trust.

When credible questions arise concerning qualifications, professional conduct, financial management, and the use of governmental authority, the City's obligation should be to investigate NOT to ignore the concerns.

5. Public Trust Has Been Damaged

Washington citizens should not have to choose between political loyalty and accountability. The standard should be the same regardless of political affiliation: 

If an allegation is false, investigate it and clear the individual.

If an allegation is substantiated, hold the individual accountable.

If public funds were improperly used, determine where the money went and who authorized it.

If credentials were inaccurately represented, determine whether the representation affected the hiring decision.

If misconduct occurred, determine whether the individual remains fit to exercise governmental authority.

That is responsible government, not partisan politics.

6. Request for Removal

The City should exercise the authority available under its municipal code concerning removal of the City Administrator.

We respectfully request that the Mayor and City Council initiate the process necessary to remove Donald “Will” Long from the position of City Administrator, or, at minimum, immediately place his continued appointment under formal review pending the completion of an independent investigation.

The City's decision should be based upon documented evidence, applicable law, City policy, and the best interests of the citizens of Washington.

7. Our Specific Demands

We respectfully request that the Washington City Council:

1. Conduct an independent investigation  
*Commission an independent investigation into:

Mr. Long's educational and professional credentials;
The circumstances surrounding his appointment;
Allegations of sexual misconduct and professional boundary violations;
Potential misuse or misappropriation of public funds;
Potential improper financial transactions or expenditures;
Potential falsification or alteration of governmental records;
Potential conflicts of interest;
Potential abuse or misuse of municipal authority; and
Any related ethics or employment-policy violations.

2. Preserve relevant evidence
Preserve all relevant:

Emails;
Text messages;
Personnel records;
Résumés and applications;
Educational verification records;
Financial records;
Purchasing records;
Contracts;
Invoices;
Payment records;
Ethics complaints;
Investigative materials;
Council communications; and
Other records relating to the allegations.

3. Provide transparency
Release all records legally subject to public disclosure concerning the investigation, hiring process, qualifications, financial transactions, and complaints.

Protected information should be redacted where legally required rather than using confidentiality as a blanket justification for withholding otherwise public records.

4. Determine whether removal is warranted 
If the investigation substantiates material misconduct, inaccurate qualifications, misuse of public resources, financial misconduct, abuse of authority, or other conduct incompatible with the responsibilities of City Administrator, remove Mr. Long from office.

5. Protect the integrity of Washington's government
Establish stronger safeguards for:

• Employee and applicant credential verification;
•  Financial controls;
• Purchasing oversight;
• Ethics complaints;
• Sexual-harassment and misconduct complaints;
• Public-record preservation;
• Conflict-of-interest review; and
• Independent investigations involving senior municipal officials.                                                                                       

   

  Why We Are Signing 

  We are not asking the City Council to convict anyone without evidence.

  We are asking the City Council to follow the evidence wherever it leads.

  We are not asking the City to silence political disagreement.

  We are asking the City to protect the integrity of its government.

  We are not asking citizens to blindly accept allegations.

  We are asking for an independent process capable of determining what is true.

  And if the evidence demonstrates that the City's chief administrative officer failed to meet the standards expected of someone entrusted with public authority, we believe the citizens deserve leadership willing to act.

Washington Deserves Better 
Public office and public employment are positions of trust.

No administrator, mayor, council member, employee, contractor, or other person exercising governmental authority should be beyond scrutiny. Qualifications should be truthful. Public money should be protected. Misconduct should be investigated. Records should be preserved. Citizens should be heard. And accountability should apply to everyone.

*SIGN THIS PETITION *

We ask the Mayor and Washington City Council to:

REMOVE WILL LONG AS CITY ADMINISTRATOR.

REQUEST THE DA TO INDEPENDENTLY INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGATIONS.

PROTECT WASHINGTON'S PUBLIC RESOURCES.

RESTORE PUBLIC TRUST.

HOLD PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND ADMINISTRATORS ACCOUNTABLE.

NOTE: The allegations described in this petition should be evaluated through a fair, independent process. Signing this petition represents support for investigation, transparency, accountability, and appropriate action based upon the evidence, not a declaration that any allegation has been proven.