Duvall joins Columbia council race

Veteran political insider Howard Duvall is joining the contest for an at-large post on Columbia City Council.

“I’m putting together my team,” Duvall said Thursday. “We’re getting ready to go.”

His 16 years as executive director of the Municipal Association of South Carolina provides insight into what works and what doesn’t at City Hall, Duvall said.

The focus will be on improving the “nuts and bolts” of City Hall operations and promoting harmony among city leaders, he said.

Duvall, 71, helped lead opposition to a strong-mayor plan rejected by voters in 2013. Since then, he has questioned the Bull Street development and interest in privatizing city water service.

He is a former councilman and mayor of Cheraw, a town in the Pee Dee.

Duvall becomes the fourth challenger to incumbent Cameron Runyan, who is seeking re-election at the nonpartisan ballot Nov. 3.

This story was originally published April 2, 2015 at 10:17 PM with the headline "Duvall joins Columbia council race."