Andre Dickens attacks Councilman Willis over alleged 'nefarious acts and shakedowns'

• Andre Dickens/Screenshot

Municipal elections are quickly getting heated as opponents are starting mount attacks, lob accusations, and try to smear reputations. And lo and behold, we now have our first attack website: lamarwillisshakedowns.com.

The website launched by Andre Dickens, who's gunning for Atlanta City Councilman H. Lamar Willis' Post 3 At-Large Council seat, aims to shine on the spotlight on the incumbent for various alleged "nefarious acts and shakedowns." The first installment focuses on the Council veteran's scholarship foundation.

"Willis set up the H. Lamar Willis Foundation, which was never granted tax exempt status by the IRS, even though Willis advertised it as tax exempt," the website says. "He used this charity for five years to solicit charitable funds from prohibited vendors with business before the Council and his transportation committee."

Willis tells CL he had not yet seen the website, but that he wanted to refrain from engaging in the same mud-slinging campaign tactics used by his opponent. Regarding his charity, he said the matter had been settled following the $25,000 fine he received in 2009 from a Fulton County judge for misrepresenting his scholarship foundation as a nonprofit organization.

The website features a photoshopped image of Willis grabbing a young child by his ankles while shaking fistfuls of loose change from his pockets. And it also promises to deliver more information about Willis' ethical woes until voters visit the polls in November.

"His long history of lies, shakedowns, shady deals and mismanagement will be posted here as we uncover more," the site says. "Lamar Willis can run for re-election, but he can't run from the truth."