Columbus mayoral candidate speaks about his arrests and their impact on campaign
Columbus mayoral candidate Steven Kelly was arrested in February 2018 for driving under the influence and again for simple battery in June, according to Columbus Police Department records.
“I knew there were issues that would be made public,” Kelly wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday. “And I still remain committed to transparency, accountability, and the values that have guided me throughout my life: service, resilience, and a dedication to doing better for my family, myself and for the people of Columbus.”
Kelly is the third candidate to file to run for Columbus mayor after fired city manager Isaiah Hugley and former Muscogee County sheriff candidate Mark LaJoye.
Originally from Rochester, New York, Kelly is a small-business owner and a disabled veteran who served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, he told the Ledger-Enquirer. He earned his MBA from Georgia Southern University.
He moved to Columbus from El Paso, Texas, to be closer to family. While Kelly co-owns S&J Contractors, he has spent most of the last year focused on spending time with his family and raising his daughter, he said.
Steven Kelly’s DUI arrest
According to CPD records, an officer was dispatched to Woodruff Road in 2018 because someone was unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle. Kelly was found unconscious and the officer smelled alcohol.
The officer woke him up, and Kelly failed a field sobriety test.
After the DUI arrest, Kelly went through alcohol treatment and counseling, he told the Ledger-Enquirer. He went through multiple programs to address his alcoholism and mental health.
“I didn’t let the DUI define me,” he said. “I still went on to do a lot of great things in the military, but I did learn that I had to fix myself. . . . That was a turning point in my life that I knew I needed to be better and do better.”
Since that time, Kelly said, he has aimed to become an advocate for suicide awareness and mental health because of his experiences. He hopes to help others who have gone through traumatic experiences.
“Everybody goes through stuff in their life,” Kelly said. “And PTSD is not defined by combat or war. There are other traumatic experiences in people’s lives that can cause PTSD — everything from homelessness to sexual assault violence.”
The DUI case still is pending, Kelly said.
Steven Kelly’s simple battery arrest
When it comes to his simple battery arrest from June, Kelly declined to provide many more details other than to confirm that he and his wife faced consequences from a domestic violence incident.
CPD records show that there were minor injuries from the altercation, and his wife also was charged with simply battery.
“All aspects of the actual case and the details of the case, I would like to keep that private until it is resolved, because of the integrity of the case and for the privacy of my wife and daughter,” Kelly said.
However, despite the case, Kelly said his wife is going to be campaigning with him after they go to court next month.
“As of now, my campaign will continue as planned, with a renewed focus on listening to the community, addressing real concerns, and building a city that lifts up every resident — especially those who’ve known adversity,” Kelly wrote in the Facebook post.
