Skip Henderson will seek 2nd mayoral term. Here’s who will challenge him for office
Columbus residents will head to the polls in 2022 to elect the city’s mayor.
The election will be held May 24. Runoff races would happen June 21, if needed. The mayor’s race will appear on the ballot alongside elections for Columbus Council Districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Visit the Georgia Secretary of State website at https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/ to find your polling place.
Skip Henderson will seek a second term. He was first elected in 2018, winning the race without a runoff. He garnered more than 56% of the vote. His nearest opponent, Zeph Baker, collected 32% of the ballots cast.
Two candidates including Henderson have already announced they will run. The Ledger-Enquirer will update this list as the field expands.
This list was last updated Dec. 1.
Skip Henderson
Incumbent Skip Henderson told the Ledger-Enquirer that he intends to seek a second term.
Before serving as city’s mayor, Henderson served more than two decades as a Columbus Councilor. A formal announcement is expected in the coming weeks, Henderson said.
John Anker
Columbus businessman John Anker told the Ledger-Enquirer that he will challenge Henderson for the mayor’s seat in 2022.
Anker, 51, is the owner of Ankerpak, a manufacturing and packaging firm with three Columbus plants and more than 60 employees.
Anker decided to run after spending the past six months talking with his wife, Beverly, and his friends. After thinking and praying about the decision, Anker felt it was time. After talking with Beverly, Anker made it official.
“I felt like it was the right thing to do,” he told the Ledger-Enquirer. “I have assets to bring to the table, and I was called to be here right now to bring up my vision of where I wanted (Columbus) to go together.”
Anker said he has nothing against Henderson. The pair are longtime acquaintances, but Anker said his expectations as a Columbus resident and business owner were not being met by city leadership.
Anker filed his declaration of intent to seek the mayor’s seat in late November and formally launched his campaign following an event on the steps of the Government Center in early December.
With his wife and family by his side, Anker spoke to the gathered crowd for about seven minutes. He highlighted his small business experience and said he wanted to create a city government more responsive to the needs of its residents. He said he hopes to lead a culture change in city leadership.
Anker said that addressing the shortage of police officers and addressing the root causes of poverty and crime are a must.
“I want to get behind the plow. I want to make more fertile soil, so those seeds can be planted and grow taller trees,” he said of Columbus future.
This story was originally published December 2, 2021 at 10:06 AM.