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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fourth candidate enters 2026 Columbus mayoral election; addresses recent arrest
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — A fourth candidate has entered the 2026 Columbus mayoral election. Kia Marie Legette, 33, filed her intention to run for mayor with the local elections office Friday morning. Legette, a mother of two and business owner, says she is 'a neighbor who cares.' 'My interest to start a political career began when my experiences with politicians, religious leaders, family, and impoverished thinkers drove me to seek God's face concerning his people and my purpose.,' Legette says in a statement letter to WRBL. 'His direction led me to resign my job in December of 2019 as director of a 37-year-old vocational school and reduce my lifestyle to what my tax dollars had already invested in to focus on rebuilding broken systems.' Legette does address a 2024 domestic violence charge on her record. She claims it left a 'void of integrity' on her life, but it has since been dropped. Legette did not address a simple battery charge stemming from 2012 and a driving with a suspended license charge stemming from 2015. Kia Marie Legette is the fourth candidate to have entered the race, but not the only one to have a history. RELATED: Columbus mayoral candidate has had multiple arrests since 2018 This comes after former Columbus City Manager Isaiah Hugley, former Russell County Sheriff's deputy and Army veteran Mark LaJoye and retired Army veteran Steven Kelly all filed intention forms. Qualifying is in March of next year. The election is slated for May 19, 2026. Right now, candidates are just filing intent to run forms that allow them to raise and spend campaign funds. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Former Columbus City Manager Isaiah Hugley files paperwork to run for mayor PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Second candidate files paperwork to run for Columbus mayor PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Third candidate jumps into Columbus mayor's race Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Third candidate jumps into Columbus mayor's race
COLUMBUS, Ga. () –– A third candidate has jumped into the 2026 Columbus mayor's race. Retired Army veteran Steven Kelly filed his intention to run for mayor with the local elections office. He's a 41-year-old stay-at-home dad and the father of a 2-year-old daughter. 'This is an amazing city, but there's room for improvement, everything from crime to infrastructure,' Kelly told WRBL. 'I think that there are things that need to be improved upon. Chief Stoney Mathis is doing an amazing job. I would like to work with him, and I would like to reach out to the community and actually engage with the community and get them to try to work with the police in a lot of ways.' Former city manager Isaiah Hugley was fired two months ago by city council. He was just seven months shy of his retirement date. Now, Hugley is running for mayor – and threatening a wrongful termination lawsuit against the seven city councilors who voted to fire him. Mark LaJoye retired from the military, has run for sheriff four times since 2012 – failing each time. Hugley has not spoken to the media since his May 27 termination. Mark LaJoye has also filed his intent to run for the vacant mayoral seat. Mayor Skip Henderson is term-limited after two terms. LaJoye has run unsuccessfully for sheriff four times since 2012. 'I think the fact that I'm a relative unknown does work in my favor,' Kelly said. 'I'm no different than any of the constituents and any of the members of the community. I'm just an average blue-collar working guy. But I see that there needs to be a change. I think that there's been a loss of morale, a loss of faith, and a lot of levels of the government leadership.' Qualifying is in March of next year. The election is May 19, 2026. Right now, candidates are just filing intent to run forms that allow them to raise and spend campaign funds. Other candidates are expected to enter the race. One of those is city councilor JoAnne Cogle. The District 7 councilor voted to fire Hugley. Multiple sources have told WRBL she is telling people she plans to run. Prior to Tuesday's meeting, she said she had not made a decision to seek the mayor's job. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Columbus mayor's race now has a second candidate as Hugley challenger emerges
Candidates have begun filing their paperwork to run for Columbus mayor in the 2026 election, a race that won't have an incumbent because Mayor Skip Henderson is completing the last of his two terms. The nonpartisan election for Columbus mayor will be May 19, 2026. The qualifying period will begin March 2 at 9 a.m. and finish March 6 at noon. Here are the candidates who have filed with the Muscogee County Board of Elections and Registration their declaration of intention to accept campaign contributions. This list will be updated as more candidates file their declaration. A former Republican candidate for Muscogee County sheriff is now in the Columbus mayoral race. Mark LaJoye, who has run for sheriff and lost five times, filed his paperwork July 11 to be a candidate for mayor. He lost to John Darr in 2008 and 2012, Donna Tompkins in 2016 and Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman in 2020 and 2024. LaJoye served in the U.S. Army for 40 years and worked for the Columbus Police Department for 13 years. He earned a master's of law degree from St. Louis University, and a bachelor's and an associate's degree in criminal justice from Troy University, the Ledger-Enquirer reported. LaJoye hopes to focus on issues including community safety, fiscal responsibility, transparency and infrastructure, he told the Ledger-Enquirerin an email July 14. He wants to lead with transparency and help manage the city's 'recovery from scandal and questionable standards.' 'My disappointment in our current leaders has driven me to this mayoral race,' LaJoye said. 'I'm called to serve. I uphold the high standards I was raised with, have served by, and continue to practice both personally and as Mayor of Columbus, Georgia.' Former city manager Isaiah Hugley filed his declaration of intention July 10 for the 2026 mayoral race. Hugley was the first Black city manager and the longest-serving city or county manager in Columbus history before the Columbus Council voted 7-3 to fire him May 27. He worked for the Columbus Consolidated Government for 41 years, including 20 years as city manager. If successful, Hugley would be the first elected Black mayor of Columbus. He also would be the third member of his family elected to public office in Columbus, following his wife, state Rep. Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus), and his sister, Pat Hugley Green, the District 1 representative and chairwoman of the Muscogee County School Board. 'Please know that my Declaration of Intent filing today is intended to be a clear message to the citizens of Columbus,' Hugley wrote to the Ledger-Enquirer in a text message July 10. 'It's time for leadership that listens, innovates and unites. My vision is simple but bold — a Columbus that works for everyone. Now the work begins!'
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Second candidate files paperwork to run for Columbus mayor
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — One day after the former Columbus city manager Isaiah Hugley filed his paperwork to run for mayor, a second candidate has entered the race. On Friday, Mark LaJoye filed paperwork that allows candidates to raise and spend campaign funds. Mark-LaJoye-intention-to-accept-campaign-fundsDownload LaJoye is no stranger to the citywide ballot. He ran unsuccessfully for sheriff four times, including last year's election against incumbent Sheriff Greg Countryman. RELATED: Countdown to Democracy: Race for Muscogee County Sheriff RELATED: Mark LaJoye, Muscogee Co. sheriff candidate wins appeal 'The early bird gets the worm,' LaJoye said. 'We didn't think Isaiah was going to file or run. We were expecting someone else to file. I think there will be maybe two more candidates to get into the race.' Despite four failed attempts at elected office, LaJoye said this is a different opportunity. 'This is a non-partisan race,' he said. 'What's going to stand out is the issues. Isaiah has a lot of baggage on his side.' PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Former Columbus City Manager Isaiah Hugley files paperwork to run for mayor Qualifying will be in early March. The election is May 19. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
