Consulting company gathers input on new Columbus city manager search

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — The search for a new Columbus city manager has moved into a higher gear this month, with consulting company, The Mercer Group, spending the last week and a half gathering input from city councilors and a handful of citizens. 

Political consultant, Dominick Perkins, was one of 20 citizens who met virtually last week with the Mercer Group.

“There were people of all ages, all races, all genders, all professional backgrounds providing input,” Perkins said. “For a matter as important as this – hiring a new city manager – I thought it was critical to have a good group of people with a diverse backgrounds willing to offer their expertise and opinions.” 

The full list of citizens nominated to speak to the Mercer Group include:

Alonzo Jones, Herman Miles, Denise Cambridge, Jansen Tidmore, Ken Henson, Betty Jackson-Sparks, Glenn Hendry, Missy Kendrick, BG (Retired) Peter Jones, Dominick Perkins, Stephen Morse, Tollie Strode, Tony Gaskin, Chris Woodruff, Gerald Miley, Billy Blanchard, Olive Vidal-Kendall, Robert Flournoy, Patrick Poole, Rinkesh Patel, Jack Warden and Willie Belfield.

Mercer Group, which has helped the city hire police and fire chiefs, has also been holding one-on-one calls with the 10 city councilors, including the seven who voted to fire Hugley. 

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: City Council votes 7-3 to terminate City Manager Isaiah Hugley seven months before his retirement

One of those seven, Columbus Councilor John Anker, expressed how he feels about the consulting group and the ongoing process of finding a new city manager.

“I feel like they are a good group,” Anker said. ” We have a history with them, and they have done some good jobs in the past. It’s up to them to bring good candidates for us. I am glad they are in the line of fire and taking action.”

City officials say they will begin advertising for the position later this month. From that, the Mercer Group will build a list of potential candidates.