Fourth candidate enters 2026 Columbus mayoral election; addresses recent arrest

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — 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