City manager Isaiah Hugley’s lawyer sends cease and desist to Columbus councilors
An attorney representing Columbus city manager Isaiah Hugley sent a cease-and-desist letter over allegations of ethical violations to six Columbus councilors Friday afternoon.
In the letter, Atlanta-based attorney Scott Grubman, addressed Councilors Byron Hickey of District 1, Charmaine Crabb of District 5, Joanne Cogle of District 7, Glenn Davis of District 2, John Anker of District 9 and Toyia Tucker of District 4.
“I am writing to each of you to address your sustained and continuing campaign of intimidation, accusations, discrimination, and defamation against Mr. Hugley,” Grubman wrote in the letter.
The letter is directed at Hickey’s recent accusations that Hugley violated the city’s code of ethics by not disclosing to the Columbus Council that his wife, State Rep. Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus), received a small business grant of approximately $29,000 for her State Farm insurance agency.
What are the accusations about?
Hickey made the accusation at the April 8 council meeting, after deputy city manager Pam Hodge informed the council at the March 25 meeting that she was responsible for signing off on Carolyn Hugley’s grant.
Columbus city attorney Clifton Fay and Mayor Skip Henderson explained during that meeting that Isaiah Hugley disclosed his wife’s grant application to them and that the city manager followed the advice of Fay by giving the application to Hodge rather than handle it himself.
“This is a very serious allegation and could not be further from the truth,” Grubman said in the letter. “ As you all well know, neither Mr. nor Mrs. Hugley engaged in any type of wrongdoing, a conclusion made abundantly clear by overwhelming and irrefutable evidence, all of which has been previously provided to you.”
That Carolyn Hugley’s business was qualified for the grant funded by the federal American Rescue Plan is undisputed, he wrote. Grubman attached copies of emails showing Hugley disclosed the potential conflict-of-interest to the city attorney and assistant attorney before following their advice and passing it on to Hodge.
Lawyer wants retraction of public statement
Grubman asked the six councilors to cease and desist with their conduct as well as retract their public statements accusing Hugley of wrongdoing.
“We further request that Mr. Hugley be allowed to serve out the remainder of his time as City Manager free of unlawful harassment, discrimination, or intimidation.,” Grubman wrote.
Hugley is set to retire at the end of the year.
Councilors have seven days to fulfill the requests before legal action is taken, Grubman said.
The Ledger-Enquirer reached out to the six councilors, but Hickey, Cogle, Tucker and Davis did not respond before publication. Councilors Anker and Crabb told the Ledger-Enquirer that they have no comment.
This story was originally published April 18, 2025 at 4:09 PM.
