Steve Benjamin endorses Tameika Isaac Devine in Columbia mayoral runoff
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin has endorsed at-large Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine in the upcoming mayoral runoff election.
Devine is facing District 4 Councilman Daniel Rickenmann in the runoff for mayor. Rickenmann finished first in the Nov. 2 mayoral election, getting nearly 44% of the vote. Devine finished second with 30% of the vote. As no candidate in the race got more than 50%, a runoff election will be on Nov. 16.
“As we enter the next phase of this mayoral race, it is vitally important to me to ensure that our city chooses the leader who is the most qualified, most experienced and the clear choice to move Columbia forward and that is Councilwoman Tameika Issac Devine,” Benjamin said in a Thursday evening statement.
The mayor said Devine has invested in public safety, has been a key proponent of revitalizing Main Street and downtown, and supports the city’s small businesses.
“I enthusiastically support her candidacy,” Benjamin said.
There were initially four candidates in the mayoral race: Rickenmann, Devine, former Benjamin chief of staff Sam Johnson and former District 3 Councilman Moe Baddourah.
Johnson finished third in the Nov. 2 election, getting 24% of the vote.
Benjamin endorsed Johnson ahead of the Nov. 2 election. Johnson once served as Benjamin’s top aide for six years.
However, with Johnson eliminated from the election, it is unsurprising that Benjamin would now throw his support behind Devine. The two have been friends for decades, and Devine is the godmother to one of Benjamin’s daughters. While they haven’t always seen eye-to-eye on council — for instance, when Benjamin pushed hard on a strong mayor referendum, Devine was against it — they have generally been longtime allies on the city’s governing body.
Meanwhile, another Columbia Democrat, CNN analyst and former state Rep. Bakari Sellers, also called for support for Devine.
“I have to congratulate @SamPJohnson on running one of the best campaigns in a local election I’ve seen. Future is bright, brother!,” Sellers tweeted Wednesday. “It’s time for everyone to rally around @TIDEVINE and make history in Columbia, SC. Her vision for the city is inspiring and necessary. I’m all in!”
This story was originally published November 4, 2021 at 5:52 PM.
