OPINION: Breaking Trust, Breaking Norms - John Anker’s Candidacy Is a Cautionary Tale

In local politics, integrity isn’t just a virtue—it’s the currency that sustains public trust. And when that trust is broken, it reverberates far beyond City Council chambers. John Anker’s decision to seek permanent election to the Columbus City Council seat he was appointed to less than a year ago is a flagrant violation of a long-held political understanding in this city. More than that, it’s a case study in the kind of calculated opportunism that corrodes confidence in our democratic institutions.

Let’s be clear: John Anker did not earn this seat from the voters. He was installed by a controversial 6-3 council vote following the resignation of longtime Councilor Judy Thomas. The understood role of an appointee in this situation has always been that of a temporary caretaker—not a springboard for political ambition. For decades, appointees have honored this unwritten rule out of respect for the electorate and the integrity of the democratic process.

Anker chose not to honor that tradition.

He has declared, “I’m not going to stop.” But perhaps he should have paused long enough to consider the implications of his actions. His decision to run has triggered concern from constituents and candidates alike, who reminds us that “everybody else in the history of Columbus has always understood” the ethical boundaries of an appointment.

This isn’t just about breaking tradition—it’s about breaking trust.

Since his appointment, Anker has become a polarizing force on the council. He cast the deciding vote to terminate longtime City Manager Isaiah Hugley, a move that shocked many and cemented his role not as a neutral caretaker, but as an active disruptor. While Anker defends the vote as “change,” Columbus residents must ask: Change for whom? And at what cost?

Mayor Skip Henderson offered a damning assessment of Anker during a heated council meeting: “You are the most reckless individual I have ever met... You don’t know how to hire people. All you know how to do is fire people.” That’s not partisan rancor. That’s a mayor expressing concern over a councilor who appears more interested in political demolition than responsible governance.

This campaign isn’t just about District 9. It’s about who we want to be as a city. Do we want to reward ambition that defies norms and disrespects tradition? Or do we want to support candidates who earn their seats the old-fashioned way—through trust, humility, and a commitment to serve?

The voters of Columbus have a choice to make in May. Let’s make it clear that public trust is not a political ladder. And let’s remind anyone who seeks office: integrity still matters.