Columbia Mayor Benjamin gets air time during first night of DNC

During the first night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday, Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin was a common sight.

During speeches by Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ., and First Lady Michelle Obama, Benjamin was pictured sitting next to former President Bill Clinton at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Clinton’s wife, the former U.S. senator and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is expected to be named the Democrats presidential nominee.

Benjamin’s part of a contingent of six South Carolina Democrats who will address the DNC this week, along with U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, former state Rep. Bakari Sellers, S.C. Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison, in addition to Felicia Sanders and Polly Sheppard – two survivors of the Emanuel A.M.E. Church shooting in Charleston last summer.

Benjamin will address the convention on Tuesday, tentatively scheduled to speak at 8 p.m. Benjamin said his speech will center on children and the impact of the United States electing its first woman president.

“It’s quite an honor to be asked to speak,” Benjamin told WIS in an interview . “The opportunity to put Columbia on a national stage and have a chance to talk about things that are not only important to our City of Columbia but of all cities.”

This story was originally published July 26, 2016 at 2:16 AM with the headline "Columbia Mayor Benjamin gets air time during first night of DNC."