Columbus residents and civic groups demand probe after council appoints John Anker; mayor signals review

Columbus residents and civic groups pressed the City Council on March 25 to investigate how council filled an at‑large seat after the resignation of Councilwoman Judy Thomas, saying the nomination of John Anker on March 11 lacked transparency and may have violated Georgia’s Open Meetings Act.

The public-comment period, which drew scores of speakers and an overflow audience, included repeated calls for an independent review. "Has the attorney general commissioned this investigation?" asked Melvin Tanner Jr., president of the NAACP Columbus, Georgia, saying the organization had circulated a petition asking Mayor Skip Henderson to request an attorney general inquiry. "Will the findings be disclosed to the public?" Tanner asked.

Why it matters: Speakers said the March 11 appointment was rushed and that private discussions among a quorum of councilors before the public meeting would run afoul of state open‑meeting rules. Multiple commenters tied the process to broader concerns about transparency and…