From the Editor... Dear Mayor Henderson:

Transparency is the cornerstone of good governance, and the citizens of Columbus, Georgia, deserve a city government that upholds the highest standards of accountability. Recent events surrounding the appointment and swearing in of John Anker to the city council demand closer scrutiny, raising serious concerns about whether the process adhered to Georgia’s Open Meetings Act.

The law is clear: City council meetings must be open to the public, properly noticed and conducted with full transparency. If a quorum of council members engaged in discussions—whether in person, by phone, by text, or by email—without public notice, they were in direct violation of this law. This is not a minor procedural misstep; it is a fundamental breach of public trust.

Statements from Councilor Glenn Davis and John Anker himself indicate that discussions took place before the nomination was formally presented. If those conversations influenced the decision-making process in a way that circumvented public oversight, the appointment should be challenged, and the council may need to reconvene.

The people of Columbus deserve clarity, not whispers of backroom dealings. Former Mayors Theresa Tomlinson and Bobby Peters demonstrated that leadership means putting the interests of the public above political convenience. Now, it is up to you to show that same commitment to accountability.

We urge you to support our request for the Georgia Attorney General to immediately launch an investigation into what appears to be a clear violation of the Georgia Open Meetings Act by certain members of the city council.

This is not about partisan politics—it is about the integrity of our local government. Failure to act would send a troubling message that transparency and the rule of law are negotiable.

Columbus residents are watching, and they expect leadership that does what is right—not just what is easy.