When the Compass is Broken: Why Columbus Must Take Back Its Voice

In order to fix a problem, you first have to face it.

By any measure, Columbus has lost its way. A once proud city led by experienced, steady hands now finds itself adrift—its compass shattered, its direction uncertain. And if we are bold enough to ask the hard question—how did we get here—we must be just as courageous in facing the hard truth: the people of Columbus have lost control of their government. The power we once entrusted to elected leaders has been quietly absorbed into the shadows of backroom politics, and we now suffer the consequences of instability, inexperience, and unchecked agendas.

Since 2021, the Columbus City Council has undergone a dramatic transformation. We’ve watched nearly half the council walk out the door, taking with them decades of irreplaceable institutional knowledge. Evelyn Turner Pugh—more than 30 years of service. Pops Barnes—20-plus years. John House. Judy Thomas. Mimi Woodson. All gone. And in their place, we’ve seen a revolving door of appointees—Valerie Thompson, Tyson Begly, John Anker, and Byron Hickey—none of whom were elected by the people of Columbus. Not one.

That’s not just a footnote—it’s the foundation of this crisis.

The citizens didn’t choose these leaders. The council did. A handful of insiders hand-picked replacements without public notice, without public input, and without public accountability. And once seated, these appointees wielded the same power, cast the same votes, and made the same critical decisions as any elected official—without ever facing the scrutiny of a single voter.

That is not democracy. That is dysfunction.

Even worse, some of these appointees weren’t chosen for their commitment to public service, but for their willingness to carry out the political agenda of those already in power. When Thompson and Begly didn’t toe the line, they were cast aside. Replaced not by thoughtful public servants, but by those willing to nod along to whatever the bloc of seven decided behind closed doors. That’s not representative government—it’s puppetry.

The Columbus City Charter gives council the authority to make temporary appointments. But what we’ve witnessed is an abuse of that authority. Appointments have been made the same night as resignations. Council seats have been treated like personal property, passed from friend to friend like a family heirloom. But let’s be clear: these seats do not belong to council members—they belong to the people of Columbus.

And when council behaves as though these seats are theirs to give, the people have a right—no, a responsibility—to take that power back.

That is why it’s time to call on our legislative delegation to amend the Columbus Charter. Let’s end the practice of council appointments. Let’s return that power to the people. When a vacancy arises, the voters—not a clique of insiders—should decide who fills the seat. Period.

Because this moment is bigger than politics. It’s about the integrity of our local government and the credibility of our public institutions. It’s about ensuring that those who sit in the people’s seats are actually chosen by the people.

Let’s not be fooled—leadership matters. Experience matters. Integrity matters. And right now, we are governed by individuals who have demonstrated none of the above. Instead, we’re seeing instability, arrogance, and even public hostility toward city staff and constituents. This is not what leadership looks like. This is not what Columbus deserves.

The people must speak. And silence, in moments like this, is surrender.

We cannot afford to be silent. Not when our democratic processes are being undermined. Not when council refuses to hear us. Not when the city we love is being dragged through the mud by those entrusted to lead it.

There was a time when our council chambers were filled with thoughtful voices, even when they disagreed. Leaders like Evelyn, Pops, Judy, and Mimi knew that public service wasn’t about control—it was about stewardship. It was about putting the community first.

We can’t bring them back. But we can bring back that spirit. We can raise our voices, demand better, and vote like our future depends on it—because it does.

The compass is broken. But with clarity, courage, and collective action, we can fix it. It’s time to give the power back to the people.

And may those who forgot where that power came from be reminded at the ballot box.