Council Responds To Hugley's Letter Through Their Attorney

The attorney for Columbus Councilors Glenn Davis, Charmaine Crabb, Toyia Tucker, Joanne Cogle, Byron Hickey, and John Anker has responded to the letter sent to them by City Manager Isaiah Hugley’s attorney, Scott R. Grubman.

In a letter dated April 23, 2025, Leslie B. Hartnett, with Ford Harrison Law Firm, the letter misspells the city manager’s last name repeatedly throughout the document that refutes Hugley’s claims of harassment citing the council’s concerns were merely ethical.

The letter argues that even though Hugley disclosed the American Rescue Plan funding received by Carolyn F. Hugley State Farm Insurance to the mayor, city attorney and other city officials, the letter alleges that Hugley did not disclose the information to the Council.

“This has become a big mess,” said Kaffie H. Sledge, who has lived in Columbus nearly 50 years. “Do these council members really think they have discovered some misdoings by City Manager Isaiah Hughley, whose name is consistently misspelled, in their attorney’s response?”

Columbus was recently ranked the 12 best run city in the United States, (https://wallethub.com/edu/best-run-cities/22869) and was the only southern city in the top 15 besides Durham, N.C.

“If you want the man out, he’s already said he’s leaving at the end of the year, so leave him the heck alone,” Sledge said. “The facts don’t support their claims. From where I stand, their collective position against the city manager seems more like Trump era racism (and this includes Byron Hickey and Toya Tucker) than any attempt to work on behalf of the citizens they were elected to represent.”

The letter states the councilors were not concerned with House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley’s eligibility for the funding, just that the councilors felt they should have been better informed.

“To be clear, the Councilmembers do not dispute that Mrs. Hughley’s business may have qualified for an ARP grant. The issue is not eligibility – it is transparency,” the letter states. “As the official empowered by Council to approve and execute ARP grant agreements, Mr. Hughley also did not have the authority to delegate the approval and signature on an ARP grant to his deputy. This entire matter could have been easily avoided had Mr. Hughley made this simple disclosure to Council.”

Still, Hugley said he consulted the City Attorney, who is knowledgeable of the city charter and its requirements; and was advised how to proceed.

Thus, the Council should understand that Hugley did not act in bad faith even if he did not disclose the information directly to them.

"We get it. You are not Hughley fans. You have that right," said Sledge. "And I’m certain his retirement/resignation can’t come soon enough to suit your purposes, whatever they are. But get your facts together. Don’t insult us with your Trumped up misrepresentations."

Efforts to reach various members of the Council and city officials were unsuccessful at press time.