Timing, Transparency, and Trust is up to you Mayor Henderson

Mayor Skip Henderson is reportedly preparing to submit a nominee for city manager to the council, filling a vacancy that has existed since May 27, 2025. While the urgency to restore stability in that office is understandable, the timing of such a decision deserves careful consideration. Moving forward before the May 19 election would be a mistake.

This is not simply about process—it is about public trust.

We are in the final stretch of an election cycle where voters are actively deciding the future direction of this city. To introduce a long-term administrative appointment—arguably one of the most consequential decisions a council can make—just days before ballots are cast raises legitimate concerns. It creates the perception that a decision of lasting impact is being rushed through before the will of the people is fully expressed.

Let’s be clear: the role of a city manager is not temporary. This is a position that shapes policy implementation, oversees daily operations, and influences the trajectory of city government for years to come. Such a decision should not be made in the shadow of an election—particularly when the composition of the council itself is about to change.

Let’s look at the facts. Council members Byron Hickey and John Anker—neither of whom were elected to their current seats—will no longer serve on council after May 19. Why should they participate in a vote on a city manager they will never have to work alongside? Their successors will take office less than a month later, in June, regardless of whether District 9 heads to a runoff. Which brings us back to the central question: what is the urgency? Why rush to make one of the most consequential decisions facing this city when a newly seated council, chosen directly by the people, is about to take its place?

Additionally, Councilor Joanne Cogle and Mayor Skip Henderson are both entering the final months of their current terms, with their last council meetings scheduled for December. That reality only strengthens the argument for patience, transparency, and sound judgment. When a significant portion of the governing body is either preparing to leave office or facing transition, the responsible course of action is to allow the incoming council—the officials elected by the people and tasked with working alongside the next city manager—to have a meaningful voice in selecting the individual who will help shape the city’s future.

The question is not whether the mayor has the authority to nominate—it is whether this is the right moment to act.

Delaying the appointment until after the election allows the incoming or reaffirmed council to participate in a decision they will ultimately be responsible for carrying forward. It ensures that the selection process reflects the most current voice of the electorate. And just as importantly, it removes any cloud of doubt about motives, timing, or transparency.

In moments like this, leadership is measured not just by action—but by restraint.

Let’s hope that At-Large Councilor Travis Chambers, along with Bruce Huff in what will likely be one of his final major decisions as the representative for District 3, will use their voices in executive session to urge that this action be postponed until the new council is officially seated. At a minimum, the citizens of Columbus deserve a process rooted in fairness, transparency, and respect for the will of the voters. Having repeatedly declared their commitment to the people of this community, they now have an opportunity to prove it—not through statements or slogans, but through principled leadership, accountability, and action.

Call them today and ask them to vote no! Travis Chambers: Phone: (706) 225-4988. Bruce Huff: Phone: (706) 653-4013

The citizens of this community deserve clarity. They deserve confidence that decisions of this magnitude are made with full accountability and broad representation. Waiting a few weeks will not weaken the process—it will strengthen it.

Because when it comes to governing, how you do something is just as important as what you do.