Columbia election notes: Devine preps kickoff; Johnson pushing health officer post

The race for Columbia mayor, and other seats on the city council, has been steaming along for six months, with candidates launching campaigns well in advance of the November election.

But now things are about to get real.

Filing for Columbia’s elections is just days away. Filing opens at noon Aug. 2 and will close at noon Aug. 13. Seats up for election this year include mayor, an at-large post, District 1 and District 4. The election is on Nov. 2, with runoffs on Nov. 16 if necessary.

The highlight of the group is the mayor’s race. Third-term Mayor Steve Benjamin, who has maintained a national profile while at the same time leading Columbia, announced earlier this year he wouldn’t be seeking re-election. Three hopefuls have lined up to run for the seat: at-large Counilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine, former Benjamin aide Sam Johnson, and District 4 Councilman Daniel Rickenmann.

Though she has made it plain for months that she intends to seek the seat, Devine is set to have a mayoral campaign kickoff event Aug. 2 at the Hunter-Gatherer Hangar on Jim Hamilton Boulevard. DJ Prince Ice will be spinning tunes and local chef Scott Hall is hosting the event. The campaign is asking would-be attendees to pre-register at bit.ly/DFMKickoff.

▪ For several months, Johnson has been pushing the idea that the city should employ a chief health officer, making it a key plank in his campaign platform. Under that proposal the city would hire someone to head up various health initiatives in the city, from dealing with pandemics to helping spearhead efforts against a number of diseases, such as AIDS, HIV or diabetes.

Now the idea seems to be gaining some traction, as District 2 Councilman Ed McDowell, who has endorsed Johnson’s campaign, discussed the issue at a recent city council meeting and city manager Teresa Wilson said city staff members also were discussing the possibility.

“From new threats like the (COVID) Delta variant to long-standing challenges like diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and so many other health outcomes that disproportionately impact some areas of Columbia, lives are at risk in our community,” Johnson tweeted July 20. “Columbia needs a chief health officer.”

Wiley Kennedy Foundation executive director Gwendolyn Singletary recently cut a video in favor of a chief health officer position, noting it could help with health disparities in North Columbia and elsewhere.

▪ At-large candidate Deitra Stover Matthews has picked up an endorsement from the Conservation Voters of South Carolina. It’s a group that is familiar to the candidate: She is a lobbyist for the Conservation Voters.

“Columbia needs a leader who will advance a bold vision for the future of our city and fight for a safe and healthy environment,” Conservation Voters of South Carolina executive director John Tynan said. “Through her tireless advocacy for people and the environment, Deitra Stover Matthews has shown that she is the leader that Columbia needs and deserves. I can think of no better person for CVSC’s first-ever municipal endorsement, having witnessed her passion, tenacity, and leadership as I’ve worked alongside her. “

▪ Public health researcher Dr. Aditi Bussells, who is in the at-large council race, has been endorsed by a prominent leader in the LGBTQ community. Jeff March, president of SC Pride, is supporting her campaign.

“I am endorsing Dr. Aditi Bussells because I believe our city needs a fresh, new and bold perspective that understands what happens on the ground,” March said in a statement. “I also believe that Aditi will listen to our citizens and the needs of our colorful communities. We can be so much more than another college town and with Aditi’s leadership we can expand our vision for Columbia.”

▪ Attorney and at-large candidate Tyler Bailey is touting a candidate distinction nod from the group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense. Per the Gun Sense Voter website, such a candidate distinction “is a signal to our supporters, volunteers and voters across the country that a candidate stands for gun violence prevention and will govern with gun safety in mind, if elected.”

▪ A sixth candidate recently joined the at-large city council race. Photographer Aaron Smalls told The State he intends to run.

Among the issues Smalls wants to tackle if elected are increasing transparency in city government, improving infrastructure citywide and supporting the arts and culture community.

“I would definitely, as a councilman, try to help with whatever concerns any citizen has, as soon as I can,” Smalls said. “I’m ready, willing and able to do that.”

This story was originally published July 28, 2021 at 2:56 PM.

Chris Trainor

The State

Chris Trainor is a retail reporter for The State and has been working for newspapers in South Carolina for more than 21 years, including previous stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free Times. He is the winner of a host of South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in column writing, government beat reporting, profile writing, food writing, business beat reporting, election coverage, social media and more.