The Columbus Council chamber is in the City Services Center, 3111 Citizens Way, off of Macon Road. Robin Trimarchi Ledger-Enquirer file photo

The Columbus Council chamber is in the City Services Center, 3111 Citizens Way, off of Macon Road.

Credit: Robin Trimarchi / Ledger-Enquirer

State legislators recommended two candidates to fill the vacant seat on the Columbus Council, but the council instead has appointed someone who sued the city.

During its meeting Tuesday night, the Columbus Council appointed retired Columbus police officer Byron Hickey as the successor to Councilor Jerry “Pops” Barnes, who died April 14 at age 80 from an undisclosed illness.

In 2010, a federal jury awarded Hickey $306,000 in a lawsuit claiming the city officials discriminated against him because he spoke out against racial and gender bias.

Byron Hickey speaks during a special called meeting of Columbus Council on Feb 28, 2023. Darrell Roaden Special to the Ledger-Enquirer

Byron Hickey speaks during a special called meeting of Columbus Council on Feb 28, 2023.

Credit: Darrell Roaden / Special to the Ledger-Enquirer

Barnes was the District 1 representative on the 10-member council. He was a Columbus Councilor for 17 years. He served 23 months of his current four-year term.

Columbus Councilor Jerry “Pops” Barnes of District 1 is shown in this March 14, 2023, file photo. Darrell Roaden Special to the Ledger-Enquirer

Columbus Councilor Jerry “Pops” Barnes of District 1 is shown in this March 14, 2023, file photo.

Credit: Darrell Roaden / Special to the Ledger-Enquirer

The city charter says the council appoints someone to fill the remainder of a councilor’s term if at least a year-and-a-half of that term has been served.

Muscogee County elections director Nancy Boren told the Ledger-Enquirer last month it was too late — at least 90 days are needed — for a District 1 special election to be on the May 21 ballot, when the even-numbered seats on the council were up for election. So as the person the council appointed to represent District 1 now, Hickey will serve until the May 2026 election.

It is an unwritten rule, but the council expects someone who is appointed rather than elected to a seat to not run for election so they don’t have an advantage running as an unelected incumbent.

 

 

Other candidates recommended

In a letter dated three days after Barnes died, three state legislators representing Columbus urged the mayor and city councilors to appoint former state Rep. Calvin Smyre to the council.

State Rep. Calvin Smyre addresses the Georgia General Assembly’s House on April 4, 2021. Georgia General Assembly

Then-state Rep. Calvin Smyre addresses the Georgia General Assembly’s House on April 4, 2021.

Credit: Georgia General Assembly

The letter was from state Sen. Ed Harbison, state Rep. Carolyn Hugley and state Rep. Teddy Reese. They said the council should appoint someone who has:

  • Demonstrated understanding of intergovernmental works.
  • History of working with or in a legislative body.
  • Exceptional experience creating, debating and managing a multimillion-dollar or more budget.
  • Understanding of the Columbus Consolidated Government and would have “a very little to no learning curve.”
  • Experience working with the current councilors.

The state legislators said they wrote this letter after being contacted by “a great number of citizens” who “have respectfully requested that we, as their state leaders, express those desires.”

Then on May 13, WTVM reported that Smyre and those three legislators instead supported one of Barnes’ daughters, licensed professional counselor Simeone “Simi” Barnes, to be the successor.

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Ledger-Enquirer.

Tags: Columbus  Georgia Politics  Politics