District 1 Councilor Byron Hickey Won’t Seek Election in 2026

District 1 Councilor Byron Hickey announced in a recent online interview that he will not seek election when his appointed term ends next year.

Hickey was appointed by the Columbus City Council on May 28, 2024, to complete the final two years of the late Jerry “Pops” Barnes’ four-year term. Barnes, who represented District 1 for 17 years, died April 14 at age 80 following an undisclosed illness.

When asked if he planned to run in 2026, Hickey cited a promise he made upon accepting the appointment.

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“I shared with the council when I came on board — you know, it’s not an ordinance, it’s not a law or anything — it’s pretty much a handshake,” Hickey said. “And I like to think of myself as being a man that keeps his word. And so I gave my word that I wouldn’t, and that’s where I’m at right now.”

There is no formal provision in the Columbus City Charter or municipal code that prohibits appointed members from running for office once their term ends. However, an informal “gentleman’s agreement” has historically discouraged appointed officials from seeking election, based on the perception that incumbency could provide an unfair advantage.

The practice was notably observed by former state Rep. Thomas B. Buck III, who succeeded Councilor Charles E. “Red” McDaniel, and the Rev. Valerie Thompson, who filled the unexpired term of Councilor Evelyn Turner Pugh.

Though not legally binding, the tradition continues to be a subject of debate among city leaders and voters alike.