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Recent Columbus Council events: Catch up on councilor’s resignation, new appointment, more

Stories by Columbus Ledger-Enquirer journalists, with AI summarization

The recent Columbus Council votes have sparked widespread controversy, highlighting concerns over transparency and community involvement. The appointment of John Anker to a vacant council seat on the same day of Judy Thomas' resignation has drawn criticism from civil rights groups, clergy and residents, particularly due to perceived haste and lack of public consultation. Allegations of private discussions among council members raised legal concerns from local Black leaders, prompting calls for an investigation by the state attorney general. Critics argue the process subverted voter intent, while supporters of the decision tout the need for seamless governance.

The fallout has galvanized public discourse, with organizations like the NAACP vowing political action against council members involved in the decision.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Columbus City Councilor Judy Thomas( District 9). 03/14/2023 By Darrell Roaden

NO. 1: COLUMBUS CITY COUNCILOR JUDY THOMAS RESIGNS FROM OFFICE AFTER FOUR TERMS. HERE’S WHY

The longtime councilor has ended her 18-year service, promising to continue supporting the Muscogee County community and her replacement. | Published March 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee

Columbus city manager Isaiah Hugley is shown in this 2016 file photo. By Mike Haskey

NO. 2: THESE 5 COLUMBUS RESIDENTS ARE ADVISING THE MAYOR IN SELECTION OF THE NEXT CITY MANAGER

Mayor Skip Henderson provides an update on finding Isaiah Hugley’s replacement. | Published March 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee

The Rev. J. H. Flakes III, center, senior pastor at Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, speaks during a Wednesday afternoon news conference at the City Services Center in Columbus, Georgia. 03/12/2025 By Mike Haskey

NO. 3: NAACP AND PASTORS CALL FOR COLUMBUS COUNCIL TO RECALL VOTE APPOINTING JOHN ANKER

“They’re in-house Negroes,” the Rev. Johnny Flakes III said, referring to the two Black councilors who supported this move. “They carry the buckets of the water, and they have sold their souls.” | Published March 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee

Byron Hickey (left) and Toyia Tucker (right). By Left photo by Mike Haskey. Right photo provided by Toyia Tucker.

NO. 4: COLUMBUS COUNCILORS REPLY TO BLACK PASTOR’S ‘IN-HOUSE NEGROES’ COMMENT AFTER ANKER VOTE

“We may not always agree, but disagreement should never turn into disrespect,” Councilor Byron Hickey of District 1 told the Ledger-Enquirer. | Published March 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee

During a news conference March 14, 2025, in the Columbus Convention & Trade Center, former Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson spoke in defense of City Manager Isaiah Hugley. Newly appointed Columbus Councilor John Anker has called for Hugley to be fired. Tomlinson also condemned the council’s 6-3 vote to appoint Anker the same day Judy Thomas resigned from the council, not allowing time for public input. By Brittany McGee

NO. 5: FORMER COLUMBUS MAYOR SHOWS SUPPORT FOR ISAIAH HUGLEY. DID CITY COUNCILORS VIOLATE LAW?

Early conversations about who would fill former Columbus Councilor Judy Thomas’ seat prior to her resignation would have violated Georgia’s Open Meetings Act, said Mayor Teresa Tomlinson. | Published March 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee

John Anker was appointed by the Columbus Council in a 6-3 vote to take former citywide Councilor Judy Thomas’ District 9 seat after she resigned for medical reasons March 11, 2025.

NO. 6: JOHN ANKER SPEAKS ON CONTROVERSIAL COLUMBUS COUNCIL VOTE, HIS CRITICISM OF ISAIAH HUGLEY

In an interview with the Ledger-Enquirer, John Anker also answered questions about whether he will run for office again. | Published March 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee

Edward DuBose, a national NAACP board member and Georgia state administrator for the organization, speaks during a Wednesday afternoon news conference at the City Services Center in Columbus, Georgia. 03/12/2025 By Mike Haskey

NO. 7: COLUMBUS COUNCIL UNDER SCRUTINY. NAACP SEEKS PROBE INTO WHETHER STATE LAW WAS BROKEN

“No elected official is above accountability,” said Columbus NAACP branch president Melvin Tanner. | Published March 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee

Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson. By Shannon B. Whittington

NO. 8: MAYOR RESPONDS TO CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER COLUMBUS COUNCIL BROKE STATE LAW

The Columbus branch of the NAACP has called for the mayor to ask the Georgia Attorney General to investigate. | Published March 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee

Melvin Tanner Jr., president of the Columbus NAACP, speaks during a Monday afternoon news conference on the steps of the Citizens Service Center in Columbus, Georgia, related to the appointment and swearing in of John Anker as a Columbus Councilor. 03/24/2025 By Mike Haskey

NO. 9: NAACP COLLECTING SIGNATURES FOR PETITION AND ORGANIZING TO VOTE OUT COLUMBUS COUNCILORS

“You cannot subvert the will of the voters,” said Ed DuBose national NAACP board member. “When you do that, you are ​operating like wolves in sheep clothing.” | Published March 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee

The Rev. Johnny Flakes III of Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church speaks to the Columbus Council during the public agenda at the March 25, 2025, meeting. He asked everyone to stand if they didn’t like the process of the council’s appointment of John Anker. Councilors voted 6-3 during the March 11 meeting to appoint Anker to the citywide District 9 seat, the same meeting in which Judy Thomas resigned from that seat due to medical reasons. By Screenshot from Columbus Consolidated Government YouTube channel

NO. 10: OUTCRY AT COLUMBUS COUNCIL. RESIDENTS QUESTION VOTE APPOINTING JOHN ANKER TO CITYWIDE SEAT

“We are here to let you know that there will be a reckoning,” the Rev. Johnny Flakes III of Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church told the city council. | Published March 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.