When "Code Words" Replace Honest Debate

In politics, words matter.

Throughout American history, there have been moments when racial hostility was expressed openly and directly. Today, however, those same sentiments are often packaged in more subtle forms. Political strategists, commentators and advocates frequently rely on coded language and "dog whistles" — seemingly race-neutral phrases designed to trigger fears, stereotypes and biases without ever mentioning race explicitly.

As we enter the final days of the mayoral runoff election, many within Columbus' Black community are hearing those code words loud and clear.

In a recent campaign video, Kelsea Keith Garrett, the wife of City Councilor Walker Garrett, appeared to encourage White voters to oppose mayoral candidate Isaiah Hugley, though she never stated so explicitly. Her remarks suggested that a Hugley administration could lead to increased crime, higher taxes and support for a proposed data center project that she implied could pose risks to the community's water quality. Critics have argued that the message relied on fears about public safety, taxation and development rather than directly addressing Hugley's record or policy positions.

Among her statements were:

"If you love Peach Little League and you love baseball, I can almost guarantee that you also love safety. The next mayor will be picking our chief of police, and that is our safety. Do you want to come to the baseball games and see your kid play, or would you like to come to the park and hear gun bullets because that's what it's going to be?"

She further claimed that city employee raises promised by Hugley would lead to higher property taxes and portrayed him as an unquestioning supporter of the proposed data center.

The problem is not encouraging people to vote. Every citizen should exercise that right. As the publisher of this publication I am encouraging people to vote as well.

The problem is encouraging people to vote based on misinformation and fear.

The reality is that Isaiah Hugley's stated position on the proposed data center was considerably different from what was portrayed in the video. Hugley publicly stated that any data center proposal must provide "100% community benefit and added community value or no deal." He further stated that there should be zero environmental concerns, guaranteed mitigation measures and no negative impact on residents before he would support such a project.

More importantly, anyone with even a basic understanding of local government knows that the mayor does not possess unilateral authority over these issues.

The mayor may appoint a police chief, but that appointment must be approved by City Council.

In order to eliminate the tax freeze, it requires a local act passed by the Georgia General Assembly and voted on by the citizens. It can not be ordered by the mayor.

The mayor may support or oppose a development project, but City Council ultimately votes on whether it proceeds.

These are not matters of opinion. They are matters of fact.

That is why the rhetoric in the video raises legitimate concerns. When voters are told that electing a Black candidate will make their neighborhoods unsafe, increase their taxes and threaten their quality of life, many people hear something deeper than a policy disagreement.

They hear a familiar message.

For decades, "law and order," "crime," "property values," "safety" and similar phrases have sometimes been used as racial proxies in political campaigns across America. The message is rarely stated outright, but the implication is often understood by the intended audience.

That is why many Black voters view these arguments not as honest policy discussions but as coded attempts to create fear about what might happen if a Black candidate gains political power.

Reasonable people can disagree about candidates. They can disagree about taxes, development projects, public safety strategies and city priorities. That is healthy and necessary in a democracy.

What should concern all of us is when fear replaces facts and when misinformation becomes a campaign strategy.

If someone wants to oppose Isaiah Hugley, then oppose him based on his record, his policies or his vision for the city. Present the facts and let voters decide.

But let's not pretend that suggesting Columbus will become unsafe, overrun with crime and burdened with higher taxes simply because a Black candidate is elected is an honest policy debate.

Let's call it what many people in this community already recognize it to be: the use of coded language designed to stir fear and influence voters without ever saying the quiet part out loud.