Albany City Commissioner Jalen Johnson announces resignation, says he will join Trump administration

ALBANY – The Albany City Commission is left with a second vacancy on the seven-member body with the resignation announced Tuesday by Commissioner Jalen Johnson.

Johnson, who has been the Ward II commissioner since 2022, said that he received a federal appointment and will be joining the administration of President Trump. He said he could not elaborate on what his role will be.

“I’ll be going to D.C.,” Johnson, who made the announcement of his resignation at the end of Tuesday’s commission meeting, said.

The departing commissioner won a three-way race to claim the seat in November 2021, claiming 53.7% of the vote.

“From championing local infrastructure improvements to supporting and expanding our public safety departments and fighting to secure the highest starting salary in southwest Georgia for our police department, I am proud to have served as the youngest member ever elected to the Albany City Commission,” he said. “It has been an incredible honor and privilege to represent Ward II and Albany.”

During his tenure, Johnson served on the Public Safety and 911 committees. That work included spearheading the effort to win a pay raise for police officers, he said. He also was criticized by constituents for missing a number of commission meetings and was on the verge of being removed from his seat late last year.

With Johnson’s departure, it appears that a second special election will be necessary this year to fill the vacant seat.

Ward VI Commissioner Demetrius Young died in December, and a special election to fill that vacancy will be held on March 18.

The city’s charter states that in the event of a seat being vacated, the commission is to call an election within 15 days in instances in which there are more than six months left in the term of office.