Chamber VP Colin Martin will try to oust Tomlinson from mayor’s office | Latest News | Columbus Ledger Enquirer

Colin Martin, vice president for governmental affairs for the Chamber of Commerce, confirmed Tuesday that he will seek to oust Mayor Teresa Tomlinson in next year’s mayoral election.

Martin said he will resign his position at the chamber on Dec. 31 and soon thereafter make a formal announcement of his candidacy. He said friends urged him to seek the office and he sees it as a way to serve the community.

Martin said he would like to see more servant leadership in the mayor’s office, more listening and less talking.

“I’ve been married for 24 years and been a father for 18 years. And the two most important lessons that I got out of that are, number one, I’m usually not the smartest person in the room and number two, I don’t have to be the person who is always right,” Martin said.

“Servant leadership is really in the end what we’re all here to do. I think that’s what the mayor ought to be, a servant leader, willing to let other people have the spotlight, to stay in the background and let other people have the glory.”

Martin also said he would like to establish a more “collaborative” relationship with Columbus Council.

“I would listen more and talk less,” he said. “I’d work collaboratively with the council and not have an adversarial relationship, which is what I sense when I watch council on TV.”

Tomlinson said she had heard of Martin’s intention to run for mayor and welcomes the competition.

“I feel very comfortable these past three years the citizens see that we’re on a sure-footed path to a very bright future. I think people are happy with the progress we’ve made,” Tomlinson said. “I love the campaign process. I welcome an opportunity to talk about all the things we have achieved and all the challenges we’ve overcome.”

Also in the race is Zeph Baker, who lost to Tomlinson in 2010 in a runoff.

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