Commentary: Anker’s Reversal Reignites Debate over Council Appointment Tradition

In a reversal from statements he made just weeks earlier, Columbus Councilor John Anker has announced his intention to seek election to the District 9 seat in the May election, a move that has reignited controversy inside City Hall and across the community.

Anker was appointed to the District 9 seat in March 2025 following the resignation of longtime councilor Judy Thomas. His appointment came by a narrow and contentious 6–3 vote of the Columbus City Council during the same meeting Thomas stepped down.

The decision to run places Anker at odds with a long-standing, unwritten “gentleman’s agreement” in Columbus politics: council appointees filling unexpired terms are expected not to seek election to the same seat. While not codified in the city charter or municipal code, the tradition is widely regarded as a safeguard against the advantages of running as an unelected incumbent and as a way to keep interim service focused on governance rather than campaigning.

As recently as last year, the custom was reaffirmed when Byron Hickey, appointed to fill the District 1 seat after the death of Jerry “Pops” Barnes, publicly committed to not running for election.

Mayor Skip Henderson has repeatedly referenced this expectation, noting that appointees are not intended to use the interim role as a political springboard. During Anker’s appointment, Henderson explicitly reminded council members of the tradition.

Tensions between Anker and the mayor have been evident throughout Anker’s 10 months on council. Anker was a pivotal vote in the May 2025 firing of then–City Manager Isaiah Hugley, who is now running for mayor. The termination passed by a 7–3 vote and marked one of the most divisive moments in recent council history.

That conflict spilled into public view during a recent council exchange in which Henderson sharply rebuked Anker, accusing him of recklessness, arrogance, and politicizing complex administrative processes. Henderson described Anker as a “hired gun,” asserting that Anker lacked understanding of city operations and was focused on disruption rather than governance.

“I worry about the people of this community,” Henderson said, criticizing what he characterized as Anker’s pattern of disrespect toward elected officials, senior administrators, and professional staff.

Anker’s announcement adds another layer to an already crowded District 9 race. He becomes the fourth candidate, joining Cathy Cook, Rocky Marsh, and John Van Doorn. Anker previously ran unsuccessfully for mayor against Henderson in 2022 and lost a citywide council runoff to Travis Chambers in 2024.

Whether the electorate views Anker’s candidacy as a legitimate change of heart or a breach of a long-respected civic norm may shape not only the District 9 contest, but also broader public trust in how Columbus fills and governs its seats of power.