Laketha Ashe’s Grassroots Campaign Deserves Respect — But Questions About Independence Remain

The Courier Eco Latino Newspaper supported Laketha Ashe in 2022 when she challenged incumbent Joanne Cogle for the Columbus City Council District 7 seat. Ashe narrowly lost that runoff election, 454 votes to 373. We supported her again in 2023 when she ran for the Muscogee County School Board, where she fell short by just two votes, 147 to 145.

This election cycle, however, unfolded under very different circumstances — and not necessarily because of anything Ashe did wrong.

From the beginning, the District 7 race showed signs of repeating a familiar pattern. Multiple Black candidates entered the contest, competing for many of the same voters and creating the potential for another fragmented outcome. At the same time, candidates seemed to enter and exit the race with remarkable frequency — like popcorn in a microwave, here one minute and gone the next.

Yet despite those challenges, Laketha Ashe accomplished something worthy of recognition. In a recent public statement, she emphasized that her campaign was built without political consultants, major donors, organized political machinery, or a network of influential supporters. By her own account, her campaign committee consisted of one person — herself. Despite those limitations, she still earned the support of 946 voters and forced the race into a runoff.

That is not a minor accomplishment.

In an era when campaigns often depend heavily on fundraising networks, endorsements, consultants, and coordinated political operations, Ashe's ability to remain competitive through determination, visibility, and grassroots outreach speaks to both her work ethic and her ability to connect with a segment of the electorate. Whether voters agree with her positions or not, earning that level of support under those circumstances deserves respect.

At the same time, politics is often about opportunities — and whether candidates choose to embrace them.

Prior to the election, The Courier Eco Latino Newspaper invited Ashe to meet and discuss her candidacy, priorities, and vision for the district. She declined that opportunity. That was certainly her right. Every candidate must determine how best to spend their limited campaign time and resources. However, in our view, that decision may have come at a cost. Face-to-face conversations matter. They provide opportunities to answer difficult questions, build relationships, address concerns, and allow community stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of a candidate's vision and leadership style.

Had that conversation occurred, it is entirely possible the trajectory of the race might have been different. Additional exposure, support, or endorsements could have emerged from that engagement. We will never know for certain. What we do know is that Ashe came remarkably close despite operating with limited resources and little political infrastructure.

The broader lesson may be that passion alone is rarely enough. Successful campaigns are often built on a combination of message, hard work, relationships, accessibility, and strategic engagement. Sometimes the opportunities candidates decline become just as important as the opportunities they pursue.

But beyond campaign strategy, another question has emerged during this runoff campaign — one that voters deserve to consider carefully.

For weeks, discussions throughout the community have centered on Ashe's relationships with District 4 Councilor Toyia Tucker and District 5 Councilor Charmaine Crabb. Friendship, by itself, is not a concern. Politics has always been built on relationships, and candidates are free to associate with whomever they choose. We have also observed Crabb publicly sharing Ashe's campaign-related posts on social media, signaling a level of support and engagement. There is little debate that Tucker and Crabb have frequently aligned themselves on major council matters.

The issue for many voters is not friendship. The issue is independence.

Allegations have circulated that Tucker encouraged or recruited Ashe to enter the race after learning that Chris Kelley intended to withdraw. Whether those allegations are true has not been publicly established. However, if there is any substance to those claims, voters have a right to understand the nature of those relationships and what they could mean for District 7 if Ashe is elected.

The question is not whether Laketha Ashe is qualified to serve. Her persistence, resilience, and willingness to continue seeking public office demonstrate genuine commitment to public service. The real question is whether she would serve as an independent voice for District 7 or become part of an existing political alliance seeking to preserve influence as the balance of power on Columbus Council potentially shifts.

Ultimately, voters must decide which matters more: the impressive grassroots effort that carried Ashe this far, or the unanswered questions surrounding who may influence her decisions once in office.

On Election Day, District 7 voters will make that determination for themselves.