Meet the five candidates running for Columbus Council at-large District 9 seat
With election day approaching on May 24, five candidates are vying for residents’ votes for the District 9 at-large seat on the Columbus Council.
All eligible voters in Columbus can cast their ballot for an at-large election. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election will be held on June 21.
Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7 will also be on the ballot next week; only voters living in those districts can vote for those seats.
Visit the Georgia Secretary of State website to find out which district you reside in and where to vote.
Each candidate introduced themselves to the Ledger-Enquirer and discussed the issues that matter to them.
Doug Redmond
Doug Redmond spent 12 years serving as a city and county manager in both Georgia and New Mexico, and has five years of experience as an economic developer. He is a licensed real estate agent and manages land with his wife.
Redmond said he sees many opportunities to improve Columbus.
“We have potential that is not fully realized,” Redmond said. “A growing economy would allow us to invest in Columbus.”
Running for the Columbus Council is about improving communication, providing effective management of the city’s resources and creating economic opportunities, he said.
A growing local economy with better-paying jobs can help address housing, crime, family stability and overall quality of life in Columbus, Redmond said.
“The economy is already being rocked with rising fuel cost, food inflation and increases in interest rates and rent,” he said. “Now is the time to ensure our tax dollars are being used for their highest purposes as we address staffing vacancies in law enforcement and across the other city departments as well.”
Redmond plans to use his prior experience in local government management and economic development to understand the issues and develop solutions to them, he said.
“I will be accountable to our citizens and open to explaining my decision-making to them,” Redmond said. “My mind will be open to solutions that improve Columbus regardless if they come from my fellow elected officials, city staff or our citizens.”
Carl Sprayberry
Carl Sprayberry is a 29-year-old Columbus native who’s lived in the city his whole life.
He was motivated to run due to increased crime rates and a desire to build the city’s infrastructure through services such as improved bus routes and bike lanes.
“The city needs leaders who will focus on rooting out the problems that have caused crime to increase,” Sprayberry said. “But many current officeholders have not experienced the problems of poverty firsthand and do not know how to address it.”
Officials need to focus on increasing wages in Columbus, filling vacant positions in the city government and increasing community programs for the youth to curb crime, he said. Sprayberry wants to make Columbus a city with a vision, he said, “which it sorrowfully seems to lack.”
Judy Thomas
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Judy Thomas, the incumbent candidate, had more than 30 years of experience in education before running for the Columbus Council in 2010 and serving three terms.
Thomas said she has the experience and knowledge about approved projects, such as the 2021 SPLOST, to address the city’s problems and concerns.
“I make a conscientious effort to dig a little deeper no matter what neighborhood is affected by those Council actions or inaction,” Thomas said.
Providing city services without spending more taxpayer money, focusing on economic development and supporting public safety departments are among the most important issues in this campaign, she said.
“Bringing jobs to Columbus will address the issue of poverty,” Thomas said. “It has been shown that Columbus’ high rate of poverty leads to increases in the crime rate and the decrease in affordable housing.”
Thomas believes her experience working with organizations and individuals throughout the county and “common sense” sets her apart from other candidates, she said.
“I believe it is the job of the at-large councilor to work with other councilors and residents, newcomers, families that have called Columbus home for generations,” Thomas said.
Nia Williams
Nia Williams is the founder of the non-profit Evolve Columbus with a mission to assist citizens with necessities and resources that will promote growth and lead to self-sufficiency and sustainability. She is a member of the Urban League Young Professionals and River Valley Black Chamber of Commerce.
Williams was motivated to run for the Columbus Council because she wants to help make the city safer.
“I remember Columbus being a place where we felt safe, children had things to do and we cared about one another,” she said. “It is important to have someone in place that is willing to listen to the people and ensure their voice is heard.”
Crime is the most important issue in this campaign for Williams, who supports a merger between the sheriff and police department that would “streamline” the government, she said.
“It also gives the power back to the people as the sheriff is an elected position,” Williams said.
She wants to be more proactive than reactive in addressing crime and hopes to support fully functional recreation centers so young people have access to enrichment services and opportunities.
One project that Williams would advocate for if elected is a Diversion Center that would address mental illness, substance abuse and poverty-related issues without incarceration.
“If we had a Diversion Center these individuals would have been assigned to a case manager to get the necessary treatment,” Williams said. “This would lessen the individuals going through the court system and the jails. Mental illness is not a crime, and we have to start acknowledging and addressing it in a non-criminal manner.”
Vickie Williams-Wiley
Vickie Williams-Wiley is a college administrator with experience in budget management and strategic planning among other areas. She has represented community organizations on the local, state and national levels.
“I will be that council member who will show up and speak out for you — the citizens of Columbus,” Williams-Wiley said. “District 9 deserves a city council member who can commit to be present and actively engaged throughout the community.”
Ensuring safe communities and neighborhoods are critical to the success and economic growth of Columbus, she said, and the city should continue focusing on recruiting and retaining public safety personnel.
If elected, Williams-Wiley would push for the implementation of a pay study for all general government employees that would focus on vacancies with public safety and commercial drivers. The study would help create an advantage in building a talented workforce, Williams-Wiley said.
Other priorities for Williams-Wiley include affordable housing, cleaner neighborhoods and supporting small businesses.
“I’m not afraid of challenges,” she said. “In fact, I believe it is an essential part of being an effective servant leader. I am a person of integrity and committed to serving the citizens of Columbus.”
