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This story was originally published on September 16, 2022.

COLUMBUS, Ga. — Having the ‘correct’ political beliefs can advance your career at the hands of City Manager Isaiah Hugley, as revealed by two city employees in a recent interview on CCG TV’s Columbus Connection.

Nepotism, according to the Oxford dictionary, is “the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.”

Isaiah Hugley has served as Columbus’ city manager — an unelected position — for a lengthy 18 years worth of numerous scandals and accusations of unethical behavior. 

Mariah Jackson, a human resources specialist for the Columbus Consolidated Government, recently revealed how her closeness to the City Manager and the favoritism of “like-minded” beliefs resulted in special opportunities not afforded to so-called “normal” employees:

“As a young person who’s only been working here for two years, I was able to meet the City Manager, talk to him, I invited him to my wedding — you know, really been able to get close to him — to where I can begin to enter into some opportunities where I wouldn’t be able to if I just was an employee here.”

Jackson, an HR specialist with only two years on the job, went on to describe how the blatantly-nepotistic closeness between her and City Manager Isaiah Hugley allowed her to sit in on important government meetings, using her privileged status and favored political beliefs to further advance her career within the workplace:

“So it was really helpful to be able to sit in some of the department meetings, the department heads’ meetings … just networking and being able to meet people who are ‘like-minded’ (emphasized).”

Jackson delivered her statements casually, as if there was nothing wrong with the nepotism she described to be occurring behind closed doors in the Columbus government.

The host of Columbus Connections, David Britt, agreed with Jackson’s remarks. Britt stated he also benefited from similar favoritism, explaining how the small size of the social circles within the city’s government help the nepotism to flourish:

“I can definitely say that I’ve been in more conversations and in more meetings and more doors have been opened working here (in Columbus’ government) that may not have been opened if you were at a larger organization in a larger city.”

Further agreeing with Jackson’s remarks, Britt went on to describe how the nepotism is an “unspoken benefit” that only allows for the personal growth of those who agree with the beliefs and sentiments of the city’s inner circles:

“You know, so, that ‘thing’ is one of those ‘unspoken benefits’ that really not only helps you get around and network, but really helps your personal growth too.”

The city government’s nepotism, as implied by Jackson’s and Britt’s statements, discriminates against other hard-working employees based on their political beliefs. It allows certain ‘select’ employees to advance who agree with the ideals and sentiments of those in power, while others who think differently are left behind and not afforded the same opportunities.

The unethical practice of nepotism allows government officials to place people with the “correct” beliefs in positions of power to help advance their political agenda. By building an environment of group-think, they eliminate opposition and replace it with like-minded individuals who will help do their bidding as “good little soldiers.”

Others in the same “inner circles” as Jackson and Britt have also advanced their careers in recent years without first having gained much experience commensurate with their positions. The results have been less than stellar. 

Jeremy Ackles, the event services manager for the Columbus Civic Center, gained his position largely through his work with the Columbus 2025 initiative where he served as a liaison with the city’s economic development department. 

The Columbus 2025 initiative has been an abysmal failure, as poverty continues to rise within Columbus while its pool of talented workers continues to dwindle. 

The civic center has also been in the spotlight lately, as its management has been unable to end the relentless criminal destruction of its own grounds. 

Nepotism in the workplace is unethical. Having it occur within a city’s government is dangerous. Nonetheless, city employees are now casually discussing their experiences with nepotism on public television, shedding light on how normalized the unethical and dangerous practice has become within the halls of our city’s government.

The “unspoken benefit,” as Britt put it, can really help you get around — but only if you’re “like-minded,” as Jackson said.

The results of these nepotistic practices — and the “amazing” agenda they unethically seek to advance — have resulted in higher crime, higher poverty, higher drug use, fewer jobs, fewer employees, and a lower quality of life for the overwhelming majority of Columbusites. 

The results are measurable. They are real. The nepotism appears to be a large contributing factor. Perhaps the city should try something else. 

Facts are stubborn things — and we’ll keep publishing them, whether city officials like them or not.

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