Runoff likely in race for Columbus mayor

A runoff is likely in the race for Columbus mayor in today’s election. Six candidates are on the ballot for the non-partisan seat held by Skip Henderson. Henderson has served two terms and is not eligible to run again.

Isaiah Hugley, Joanne Cogle, Mark LaJoye, Steve Kelly, Dr. Jaketra Bryant and Chris Breault appear on the ballot for mayor. One candidate must receive 50% plus one of the votes in order to declare victory according to Nancy Boren with the Muscogee County Elections and Registration office.

Fired city manager Isaiah Hugley was endorsed by the local Democratic party and appears to be the frontrunner as Columbus is a traditional blue county during elections. Hugley recently shared on social media “Columbus deserves a leader who has done the work and still has the vision to dream bigger. A lifetime of public service isn’t the finish line, it’s the foundation.”

City Councilor Joanne Cogle ditched her seat in District 7 to run for mayor. Cogle has repeatedly stated she proudly runs as an independent candidate with no party affiliation and enjoys the support of several fellow city councilors. She says the city can’t afford to go backwards touting the campaign slogan “When experience matters, Vote for good experience.”

Mark LaJoye is no stranger to politics having unsuccessfully run for office five times in Muscogee County. LaJoye has also made no secret that he aligns himself with the Republican party. He has made his experience in the military and law enforcement a focal point of his campaign platform. LaJoye states “In the military, every mission starts with a clear plan. The same should be true for our city. After leading over 500 personnel and managing nearly $1 billion in assets, I, Mark LaJoye, know what it takes to complete a mission.”

Steve Kelly is a combat veteran and political newcomer in Muscogee County. Having raised substantially less campaign funds than some of the other candidates, Kelly has used social media frequently to push his campaign initiatives. “I Wasn’t Supposed to Be a Politician… But Here We Are, For Our Kids. For Our Future. For Columbus,” Kelly posted. He also said due to “safety and security concerns” his watch party this election night will not be open to the public.

Dr. Jaketra Bryant is another newcomer to the political scene. Dr. Bryant has consistently focused her campaign platform on the disenfranchised, the homeless population and the least among us. The mental health clinician has promised to represent all of Columbus regardless of your zip code or social status in life. “I’m running to lead Columbus GA with a new way of thinking: where safety and opportunity show up no matter where you live. Not just downtown. Not just certain zip codes. Every corner of Columbus,” said Bryant.

Trial attorney Chris Breault burst onto the campaign trail for mayor on the last day of qualifying in March. Breault enjoys name recognition from his many billboards throughout Columbus for his work as a local attorney and funded his own campaign for mayor. He has routinely posted videos on social media showing blight, trash and worn-out recreational facilities to highlight failures of past and current city representatives during his campaign.  “Win, Lose or Draw today, it has been my Honor to represent you in a small capacity as a Candidate for Mayor of Columbus,” Breault shared on his Facebook page.