LOVEJOY, Ga. -- A man who serves as a city's mayor and city manager is defending his dual role.
The path to Lovejoy will take you to a small city in Clayton County -- a place where city hall and the police department share a building and where residents can afford fresh vegetables at the city garden. A well-kept little place run by Mayor Bobby Cartwright.
Cartwright's online bio will tell you he's mayor of Lovejoy, what it doesn't mention is that he's also the city's full time city manager.
"I think the proof is in the pudding, I have done the job that I am being paid for," he said.
Perhaps he means "jobs" he's being paid for. Cartwright's role as mayor pays only $6,000, but as city manager he makes an additional salary of $110,000, making him Lovejoy's highest paid employee. His first contract as city manager in November 2012 was for $62,000. In less than three years, his pay has increased 47 percent.
11Alive Investigator Catie Beck: Do you think it's appropriate that the mayor slash city manager should receive such large increases when city employees aren't?
Cartwright: Yes.
CB: Why is that?
Cartwright: I couldn't hire someone that does what I do for money even close to that; I couldn't replace me for 110 anywhere.
Not that anyone looked. It was council members that appointed Cartwright to the job -- no job posting, no other applicants and no need - the mayor says.
"If we had another opening, I believe it would go out, if I wasn't interested in the job, sure I think we could, but I would put me against anyone for this job"
But should a city mayor also be a city manager? And should that city manager also get government contracts for construction? Mayor/city manager Cartwright also owns a construction business in Lovejoy. And that business holds several government contracts for hundreds of thousands of dollars including one with Clayton County and another with Jonesboro.
CB: I'm just wondering how many jobs you plan to do full time?
Cartwright: Would you ask Donald Trump that? He's running for the president of the United States; he's the richest man in the world. Think about what you are saying
CB: Are you comparing yourself to Donald Trump?
Cartwright: I may be as smart as he is, I have several different businesses.
And several different perks. Cartwright also has use of a city vehicle -- a 2015 Chevy Tahoe. And he has a city purchase card. On average, Cartwright spends between $2,000 to $4,000 on the card, including lots of big ticket purchases at Home Depot.. The mayor says those expenses go to the city garden a project he pioneered and one that's been popular with residents.
CB: So it's the city manager P-card that would be reviewed by the mayor?
Cartwright: No, it would be reviewed by clerk and then the accountant.
Speaking of review, we asked the attorney general to review the practice of being mayor and city manager at the same time. They sent us case law, a ruling made in 2008 by the attorney general's office. At the time, Snellville's mayor was also city manager. The opinion states clearly "the dual service is inherently incompatible and inappropriate".
11Alive legal analyst Phil Holloway agrees. He refers to Lovejoy's city charter. It says the city manager is responsible to the mayor and council, it also says the mayor presides over council. Holloway says it's an oversight problem.
"The purpose of the checks and balances and protect the taxpayers and to make sure their money is being spent wisely," Holloway said.
The mayor says there's no conflict. He answers to council, and they respect his works and so do his constituents because no one works harder than he does.