Columbus voters will usher in a new mayor this year, after incumbent Michael B. Coleman completes his fourth term in office and departs the longest-serving mayor in the city’s history. He also holds the distinction of being the capital’s first African-American mayor.

After spending about a decade of public service on the Columbus City Council, he assumed office in 2000. During his 16 consecutive years as mayor, Coleman helped create 40,000 jobs and fostered approximately $7 billion in private...