Local High School Students Meet with Mayoral Candidate Isaiah Hugley

by Glenda "Gigi" Crawford, News Reporter

On Saturday afternoon, February 28, Columbus mayoral candidate and former City Manager, Isaiah Hugley, along with his wife, Carolyn, and several others, including Mrs. Rosa Patterson, Principal of Spencer High, were in attendance at the Peach Cobbler Factory on Airport Thruway for a Meet'n'Greet with local high school students from the valley area.

Mrs. Hugley is also a State Farm representative as well as a Georgia State Representative. 

She is quoted as letting the students know that everything in life is about politics and negotiations, and although some people prefer not to be involved, it is a fact of life that politics is involved in everything we do. 

From street lights and libraries and stop signs to the highest level office in the land. With her session on "Intro to Politics," she was there to encourage the students to register to vote and to teach them how the political process works, and also to teach them to remember that a disagreement with someone over political matters does not mean we don't respect the opinions of others.

Our best course of action is always to listen to others, respect their opinions, and expect them to also respect ours. 

Mayoral Candidate Hugley, who is, so far, noted as the highest fundraiser of all the candidates, answered students' questions about his career working with the city of Columbus for 40 years before leaving the office of City Manager.

He also talked with the students, which he calls "GenZ," about building economic development and spoke of his ONE COLUMBUS initiative for the future well-being of the city.

“You cannot build progress on top of division. Unity is the foundation.” — Isaiah Hugley

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported as of September 2025, there were several candidates seeking to be elected to replace Mayor Skip Henderson, who has served his two terms and cannot run again. 

Along with Hugley, they were Mark LaJoye, who ran for sheriff several times and lost; Steve Kelly, a small business owner and U.S. Army veteran; Kia Legette, a business owner who is now running for U.S. Senate for the State of Georgia and intends to run for President of the United States in 2028; District 7 Councilor Joanne Cogle; Byron Hickey, serving as a city Councilor for District 1; and Jonathan Jones.

Since then Byron Hickey, Kia Legette, and Jonathan Jones have withdrawn their Mayoral candidacies. Joining the above candidates and still in the running is candidate Jaketra Bryant, a local therapist and community engagement advocate.

CURRENT INFORMATION ON LOCAL ELECTIONS

The Columbus mayor's election will be May 19, 2026.

Notice of Special Election

Notice is hereby given that on the 19th day of May, 2026, a special election will be held in conjunction with the General Primary/Nonpartisan Election at the regular polling places in the election districts of Muscogee County, Georgia at which time the qualified voters will vote to fill the remaining terms in Council District 1 and Council 9 At-large.

March Meeting Notice

The Muscogee County Board of Elections will hold its monthly board meeting on March 12, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at 3111 Citizens Way.

If you are looking for volunteer opportunities with the Hugley campaign, click here.

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