Dr. Natalie Nicole Calls for Ethical Accountability in City Leadership

In a passionate address during Tuesday’s Columbus City Council meeting, Dr. Natalie Nicole, Realtor and CEO of Role Model Academy, delivered a pointed message titled “Ethics & Leadership: The Responsibility of Speech in Public Office.”

Dr. Nicole’s remarks focused on the ethical duty of elected officials to uphold professionalism in both their words and actions. She cited several statements made during an official investigation — now part of the public record — that she described as “deeply troubling” and “unbecoming of an elected leader.”

Among the remarks she highlighted were:

·       “He gets his little mafiosos to come and talk on the public agenda…”

·       “I mean just watch the last council meeting on the public agenda when he brings all of his little preachers.”

·       “I do think that they have some mafia-like behavior in a way that the mafia will come in and intimidate and try and get you to do things their way.”

Dr. Nicole noted that the term “mafioso” refers to members of organized crime who use power, money, or intimidation to maintain control. She said such language directed toward clergy and African-American community advocates was “a blatant, dismissive, and disrespectful insult.”

“These statements were not private,” she said. “They were made during an official investigation concerning city business. That means they are not personal opinions — they were spoken in the capacity of a public official.”

Nicole stressed that freedom of speech does not absolve elected officials from accountability. “Leadership is not just about authority,” she said. “It’s about responsibility. When an elected official responds to citizen concerns with, ‘I have freedom of speech too,’ that reveals a misunderstanding of ethics, public duty, and the responsibility that comes with power.”

She added that “intent does not erase impact,” calling on city leaders to model professionalism at all times. “Public officials are trained and expected to uphold a professional standard — not deflect accountability,” she said.

Dr. Nicole’s comments were prompted by remarks made by Councilor Charmaine Crabb during a Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office investigation. Those comments, which referenced former City Manager Isaiah Hugley and Rev. Johnny Flakes III — both African American — have drawn criticism from local faith leaders and community organizations.

Councilor Byron Hickey offered a response during the same meeting. “Mr. Mayor, I will agree that we all hope the public and everyone should always speak with discernment and respect toward others,” Hickey said. “But when you have a preacher who referred to council members as ‘in-house negroes’ and said they ‘carried the water,’ there should also be accountability coming from the public for those who entertain that kind of behavior. It goes both ways — everyone should speak with discernment and respect toward everybody.”

Hickey’s comments referenced a press conference held by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA) and the NAACP, where faith leaders voiced frustration over the process used to appoint John Anker to the Columbus City Council. He contended that he and Councilor Tucker were unfairly portrayed in those remark just because of the way they voted.

Dr. Nicole concluded her address by urging the council to strengthen its ethics policy to ensure that all official communication — public or private — reflects “respect, accountability, and professionalism.”

“Our community deserves leaders who understand that their words carry weight,” she said. “Because when respect leaves the room, integrity soon follows.”