City examines mayor’s aide for possible breach

Blog post accuses Craig Kidd of improper use of taxpayer money, time.

The city of Johns Creek is investigating whether a mayoral aide and vice chairman of the Fulton County GOP improperly solicited candidates for city positions on the taxpayers’ dime.

Councilman John Bradberry aired this out at a council work session this month. He said an anonymous blog post referenced a public records request asking for the texts, phone logs and emails of Craig Kidd for most of 2019. The post accused Kidd of spending city time to recruit political candidates for city positions.

“My only goal is not to vilify or prosecute someone but rather just to get to the bottom of it so it can be put to bed. Ideally it’d be put to bed by the end of the year so we’re not starting the next decade on a bunch of this kind of stuff,” Bradberry said at the Dec. 9 work session.

But nearly three weeks later, it appears that is what’s happening.

Acting city manager and Police Chief Ed Densmore said this week that it was unlikely the city would hire an outside party to conduct the investigation before Jan. 1. He also told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that there was no timeline or budget proposed.

“I’m happy that the mayor has asked for an independent person to look into this. I believe that when a fair and reasonable investigation occurs, it will show no improper activity was conducted,” Kidd said Thursday. His base annual salary from the city is $79,014.52.

Mayor Mike Bodker said at the Aide continued on B2

CONTRIBUTED Craig Kidd is an aide to Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker and is also the vice chairman of the Fulton County GOP.