Dr. Jaketra Bryant is a political newcomer who says she jumped into the race for mayor because Columbus doesn’t need another politician at the helm. “The city’s state of where it’s at, it’s not doing well and I see a lot of missteps that are really harmful that actually can be repaired and so politics aside, yeah sort of kinda new but my area and background is mental health professional, and my PhD is in leadership.”
“I actually do a lot of getting organizations in towns and cities and corporations together and kind of cleaning them up. I’m for hiring, for retention and for cross collaboration. I don’t think we need a politician,” she said.
Dr. Bryant doesn’t have the same name recognition as some of her opponents which include a former city manager, a current city councilor and a trial attorney with billboards across the city. She said that’s a good thing. “I think all of those people have a different type of reputation and I actually have none. I think that’s one of the things they kept trying to figure out like what is she? What has she done? Is there any dirt and I’m like actually it’s not. I was like that kid in high school that actually did everything and didn’t get in trouble.”
“They all kind of have this track record of letting people down to and right now we need to repair with action.” If elected mayor, Dr. Bryant said she would take immediate action to address homelessness which has been a hot topic at political forums. “I just see the numbers rising. I was just at a meeting earlier and I talked to them about the fact that the point in time doesn’t count the people unhoused in hotels. So, the number is at 360 but if you count those people who are in hotels because they’ve lost their houses, we’re probably at 400 and something people that are unhoused and that’s not okay.”
“One of my issues is really addressing that through making micro units which is something we’ve seen in some other towns like Minneapolis and Birmingham where it’s a short-term transitional housing so people actually can have some form of independence and autonomy but with guidance,” Dr. Bryant told Now Georgia.
Another issue she is focusing on is public transportation in Columbus. “It’s just not very accessible. The routes don’t go a long way. Our veterans and our disabled population, fixed income are not able to ride it as much as they need to. People who may work second shift, the hours don’t extend so being able to extend those hours and support that as well as supporting some of the wasteful money that’s been happening and redirect it to better places.”
“Fixing the potholes, putting funding into classrooms and schools and helping support the teachers with more training and just support with social and emotional learning,” are all high on Dr. Bryant’s priority list. “The things that kids need. Those things actually do reduce crime and not only do they reduce crime, but you feel supported by the community. And then supporting small businesses so that people can see the talent that’s needed is in the city already.”
Columbus will choose a new mayor in the upcoming election May 19, 2026. Early voting continues through May 15, 2026.
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