This is not a commentary about mayoral indecision. It is a commentary about a troubling lack of understanding—and respect—for process, protocol, and people displayed by District 9 City Councilor John Anker.
Anker was appointed, not elected, yet he has repeatedly positioned himself as an authority on the city charter while demonstrating, in both tone and substance, that he does not fully grasp how it operates. Even more concerning is the pattern of conduct that has followed his appointment. From the outset, his presence on the Columbus City Council has been marked less by collaboration and more by confrontation—particularly toward the mayor, the city manager, and professional administrative staff.
The latest flashpoint came during a recent council meeting when Anker pressed Mayor Skip Henderson with a question he framed “for the record”: whether a job offer had been extended to any finalist in the ongoing city manager search. The mayor answered plainly—no.
That should have been the end of it…