Bobby Peters

Bobby G. Peters (born February 21, 1949) is a Superior Court Judge in Columbus, Georgia. He is also the former Deputy Sheriff and Detective with the Sheriff's Department, College Instructor, Director of Police Academy, Attorney at Law, City Councilor, Mayor of Columbus, Georgia, and now a Superior Court Judge.

He was first elected Mayor in 1994, after twelve years as a city councilor. In 1998, Peters became the first Columbus Mayor to win re-election to a second term since consolidation of city and county in 1971. In a field of six candidates, including a black minister and a black President of the N.A.A.C.P., he won the election on the first ballot, without a runoff, which all political observers said was impossible with such a diverse and professional group of candidates. In addition to the black candidates, three of the other candidates were popular local attorneys like Peters. But Peters won every black precinct in the city, plus every other precinct in the city except one, which clearly confirmed his appeal to a cross section of the entire community. He served as Mayor for 8 years, until 2002. Term limits prevented him from running for a third term. His eight years resulted in over a billion dollars in investment in the city, no property tax increase at all, increased money for public safety, a low crime rate, and more minority appointments as department heads in the history of the city. In 1999 he spearheaded a sales tax vote which was approved by the voters to build all new supercenters with new pools, new firestations, new technology, an awesome new public library, a citizens service center, and money for much needed infrastructure. As Mayor, Peters also served as Public Safety Director of the city in charge of the Police Department, Fire Department, EMS, E-9ll, Muscogee County Prison, and all non-public safety departments. His success was hiring the best, including a three star General who was commander of Fort Benning, Georgia. Gen. Carmen Cavezza was requested by Peters to be his City Manager and he accepted. They had one of the best relationships in the history of the city as evidenced by 8 great years without a tax increase and over a billion dollars of new investment in the city. In fun, employees would call city manager Cavezza, "General Cavezza" and would call Mayor Peters, "Major Peters" which also highlighted their closeness. Peters always gave everyone else credit for all the good things which happened under his watch. A very shy person, he hated giving speeches and talking to crowds. "I would rather do the work and accomplish things instead of telling everyone what we will do, we need to show them."

Peters graduated from Hardaway High School in Columbus, Georgia in 1967, even though he had more absences than any other student at Hardaway. He later earned an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and a post-graduate Masters degree in education with emphasis on political science Columbus State University. While working full-time, he graduated with a Juris Doctorate in law from Woodrow Wilson College of Law in 1979 while the Director of the Police Academy in Macon. He drove to Atlanta at night for three years to attend law school and passed the state bar exam prior to graduating from law school, while working full-time, another major accomplishment which most said was unheard of. As the President of the law school stated, "it was an unheard effort to pass the state bar before even graduating from law school, without taking a bar review course, while working full time and driving over 400 miles a week at night to attend law school." Bobby's good friend, police office Neal Bowers, took the bar exam when he did in 1979. Before they received the positive results of both passing the bar exam, Neal was shot in the head and killed while responding to an armed robbery call. Bobby asked the school to dedicate the graduation to Officer Neal Bowers which the school did. Bobby dedicated a plague to Neal during the graduation ceremony to hang in the school in memory of his good friend. He was always a supporter of public safety and while a City Councilor he sponsored the take home police car program, a new pension plan, use of police cars and uniforms for side jobs, increased pay, and much more for the dedicated officers. Since officer Bowers was killed in a convenience store without cameras, Councilor Peters sponsored an ordinance requiring all convenience stores to have surveillance cameras installed to aide police in identifying armed robbers.

Bobby Peters was also one of only ten elected officials in the entire United States to represent our nation in a governmental exchange program with Australia and New Zealand. Peters was named the first "Ambassador of Goodwill" for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), formerly the School Of The Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia. In 2002, Peters was presented with the "Order of Saint Maurice" by the Commanding General of Fort Benning, Gen. Paul Eaton for all his support of Fort Benning while Mayor of the City. Peters was also named the "People's Advocate" by 22 different organizations for all the free legal work he did for those who could not afford an attorney. He and John D. Allen (a local black attorney) began the first bi-racial law firm in Columbus in the early 80's. Both have been recognized over the years for their dedication to unity and equal justice for all and for caring for those who need help the most. Both Peters and Allen lived in the "projects" which were low income housing when they were children. Both would work hard to achieve so much in their lives and both would later become Superior Court Judges and work side by side to continue working for unity and equal justice and equal access to the court system.

References

Ledger Enquirer articles, Columbus State archives, * Historical List of Mayors, Gen Carmen Cavezza, Gen. Paul Eaton, columbusga.org; Superior Court Judicial Council of Georgia. Law Enforcement Training Center of Georgia