Columbia election notes: Realtor group backs Rickenmann for mayor
Columbia mayoral hopeful Daniel Rickenmann’s campaign has picked up the backing of a Realtors group.
The political action committee of the Central Carolina Realtors Association announced in a Facebook post that it has chosen to endorse Rickenmann in November’s mayoral election. There are four people aiming for the capital city’s top political spot this year: Rickenmann, former District 3 City Councilman Moe Baddourah, at-large City Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine and Sam Johnson, former chief of staff to Mayor Steve Benjamin.
Benjamin, Columbia’s first African American mayor, is not seeking re-election this year.
“Rickenmann is a Realtor champion with a focus on growth, development, affordable housing, and bringing Columbia in-step with our neighbors in Charlotte, Greenville and Charleston,” the association said in its social media post.
Residents will have a chance to talk with Baddourah next week. The former District 3 City Councilman will have a meet-and-greet at 6 p.m. Sept. 28 at Let’s Cook Culinary Studio on Assembly Street. Baddourah, who previously served two terms on city council and unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2013, was a late entry into this year’s mayoral fray, launching his campaign in August.
Devine has picked up support for her mayoral campaign from a number of local leaders, including state Rep. Wendy Brawley, a Richland County Democrat. Brawley is in her third term representing House District 70.
“Tameika Devine has proven herself to be a true and compassionate leader for the people of, and outside of, Columbia, South Carolina,” Brawley said in a Twitter post from Devine’s campaign.
Johnson has gotten the endorsement of Genaro Padilla, who has long been a key organizer of the Main Street Latin Festival. Johnson touted the endorsement on social media on Sept. 15, which was the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month.
“Sam is a great guy, he’s a humble man, and he has a beautiful vision for the city,” Padilla said. “He was an assistant to the mayor before, he knows what’s going on and he knows what needs to be done.”
The robust field for an at-large seat on Columbia City Council is set to meet in a candidate forum hosted by the Columbia Urban League Young Professionals. The virtual forum will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 30 and will be streamed live on the Columbia Urban League Young Professionals Facebook page.
The field for the at-large seat, which is elected citywide, includes attorney Tyler Bailey, IT professional Heather Bauer, public health researcher Dr. Aditi Bussells, attorney John Crangle, environmental lobbyist Deitra Stover Matthews, photographer Aaron Smalls and activist John Tyler.
The capital city’s election is Nov. 2. Aside from mayor and the at-large seat, there are also elections in District 1 and District 4. Attorney Tina Herbert and state Department of Corrections worker Christa Williams are running in District 1, and businessman Joe Taylor is the only person running in District 4.
This story was originally published September 22, 2021 at 10:07 AM.
