At the time, some interviewed said race played a role in the resignations. Byrd is black. Ramsey is white. But other people cited a variety of reasons for the departures, including hurt feelings, worries about being fired and loyalty to the former mayor.

Kim Hampton, who was city treasurer under Ramsey, said Friday that she resigned her job in June 2015, two months into Byrd’s tenure.

Hampton blamed “differences” between her and the mayor. She declined to elaborate. But Hampton offered several possibilities about why Byrd lost her re-election bid.

“The city streets are in terrible shape,” Hampton said. “She’s not done anything to move the city forward. There are many outstanding bills that are unpaid. She would not answer a direct question from any citizen, give them any kind of an answer.

“She was very distant from everyone,” Hampton said. “The city is just in bad, bad shape.”

Hampton, who is white, also said media outlets framed the 2015 resignations as racially motivated, when that was not the case.

Hampton said the new mayor, Williamson, is also black.