Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson answers criticism of pausing city manager search
Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson defended the pause in the city manager search and the decision not to release the names of finalists after a mayoral candidate criticized the choice during the Columbus Council meeting Tuesday.
Steven Kelly, who is running for mayor in the 2026 election, spoke during the public agenda portion of the meeting, arguing the city manager search lacks transparency.
Kelly, echoing a sentiment Columbus Councilor Toyia Tucker of District 4 shared last week, argued that while early-stage applicants can be kept confidential, the names of three or more finalists must be released to the public.
“That disclosure is not optional,” Kelly said. “That disclosure is not dependent on whether the mayor likes the finalists. That disclosure is not erased by calling something a pause.”
Kelly also implied Henderson decided to pause the search because, in six months, two appointed councilors, Byron Hickey of District 1 and John Anker of citywide District 9, no longer will be in their seats.
“The makeup of this council will change,” he said. “Not to mention, a new mayor-elect. The public sees this pause lining up perfectly with political turnover, and they are connecting the dots.”
Kelly speculated that Henderson is delaying the process so he can bring forward a candidate who wouldn’t get support from the current council.
Columbus resident Val McGowan also expressed concerns about the pause during the public agenda, wanting to know more about why the process wasn’t moving forward.
Henderson explained in response to Kelly that he wasn’t “waiting six months” to recommend a candidate to the council.
When he announced the pause at the Nov. 18 council meeting, Henderson said it would restart in about three to six months, which would provide time to look at salaries for the city government.
“The search is paused in the sense of we’re not going to send any more information out or go out there advertising,” Henderson said in response to McGowan. “But if we have somebody that has already seen the advertisement and comes and talks to us, we’re not going to turn away a good candidate.”
Henderson defends city manager search
The requirements for filling the role are simple, Henderson said.
“It states the mayor gives a name to council,” he said. “Council makes the decision on whether or not to approve them. It doesn’t say how. It doesn’t ask.”
The process the mayor is using is the same as the search for the police chief, fire chief and warden, Henderson said, including the same search company, Mercer Group Associates of Litchfield Park, Arizona.
“We expanded the transparency by making sure that council was involved early and often,” Henderson said. “And we made sure that the citizens were involved. And at the end of the day, we were constantly searching to get to an individual who would be our finalist to recommend to council. And, for a variety of reasons, we were unable to get there.”
In response to the criticism about not disclosing the city manager finalists, Henderson argued that the city did not want to get a reputation as a community that would broadcast the names of those applying for top-level positions.
“Most of these people are gainfully employed,” he said. “They have employers now, and it could create a more awkward conversation if we release their names right now.”
Mayor responds to political criticism
Henderson also responded to Kelly’s implication that he had political reasons not to recommend a candidate now.
“The great thing about political aspirations — I don’t have them anymore,” he said. “I’m out of here next year, so I don’t feel a whole lot of political pressure.”
Anything in his handling of the city manager search or employees is done strictly because he believes it’s the best way forward, Henderson said.
Mercer Group Associates recommended to hold off for about 90 to 120 days, he said, which would allow the holidays to pass without releasing another ad people might dismiss “because they think it’s a remnant of one that’s held over.”
“We’re going to continue to work and do exactly what we need to do,” Henderson said. “And that’s looking after the best interest of Columbus.”
The search for a new city manager began in March in anticipation of former city manager Isaiah Hugley’s retirement at the end of 2025. The search didn’t change after the council fired Hugley with a 7-3 vote in May, but Henderson previously told the Ledger-Enquirer they aimed to fill the position by early January. Hugley announced in July he is running for mayor.
The Ledger-Enquirer asked the mayor’s office and the city attorney for more information about the city manager search and nomination but did not receive a response before publishing.
This story was originally published December 10, 2025 at 12:07 PM.
