What you need to know about the 2024 candidates running for seats on the Columbus Council

Brittany McGee
·2 min read

Columbus residents will take to the polls to vote on who will represent the even numbered districts on the city council on May 21.

Two council races will be competitive, District 4 and the at-large seat, while council members sitting in the other districts up for reelection run unopposed.

Residents will also choose who will fill former Columbus Councilor John House’s at-large seat for the seven remaining months of the current term in a special election, and also for the next four years.

April 22 is the voter registration deadline, and early voting runs from April 29 through May 17. A runoff election will take place on June 18, if needed.

Here are the candidates who qualified to run for Columbus Council:

District 2

Incumbent Glenn Davis is running unopposed.

District 4

Columbus Councilor Toyia Tucker represents District 4.
Columbus Councilor Toyia Tucker represents District 4.

Incumbent Toyia Tucker was first elected as District 4 councilor in 2020. Tucker served in the Air Force, is founder of the Juneteenth Jubilee Commission and co-founder of the River Valley Black Chamber of Commerce.

Tyrone Thomas is running in the 2024 Columbus Council election to represent District 4.
Tyrone Thomas is running in the 2024 Columbus Council election to represent District 4.

Tyrone Thomas is the senior pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Fort Mitchell, AL. Thomas retired from his 30-year career with the Columbus Police Department.

District 6

Incumbent Gary Allen is running unopposed.

District 8

Incumbent Walker Garrett is running unopposed.

Council At-Large 4-year and Council At-Large Special

John Anker is running in the 2024 Columbus Council election for the at-large seat.
John Anker is running in the 2024 Columbus Council election for the at-large seat.

John Anker is a former mayoral candidate and 29-year resident of Columbus. Anker is the founder and president of the manufacturing and logistics company Ankerpak.

Travis Chambers is running in the 2024 Columbus Council election for the at-large seat.
Travis Chambers is running in the 2024 Columbus Council election for the at-large seat.

Travis Chambers serves as a member of the Economic Development Authority and Workforce Development Committee through the Chamber of Commerce. A former small business owner, Chambers currently works in the nonprofit sector.

Patrick Leonard is running in the 2024 Columbus Council election for the at-large seat.
Patrick Leonard is running in the 2024 Columbus Council election for the at-large seat.

Patrick Leonard is a former humanities professor at Ivy Tech in Fort Wayne, IL and has worked as a pastor for 12 years. He is currently the pastor of Faith Ministries of Columbus, GA.

Rocky Marsh is running in the 2024 Columbus Council election for the at-large seat.
Rocky Marsh is running in the 2024 Columbus Council election for the at-large seat.

Rocky Marsh served in the U.S. Army for 10 years and is currently the Department of Defense Civilian Fort Moore Budget Analyst. Marsh is a member of the Columbus Crime Prevention Board.