Daniel Rickenmann sworn in as new mayor of Columbia in Main Street ceremony
Daniel Rickenmann formally took office as Columbia’s new mayor Tuesday afternoon in an outdoor ceremony in front of City Hall.
It marks the first time in 12 years that South Carolina’s capital city has a new leader. Outgoing Mayor Steve Benjamin did not seek reelection in 2021.
Rickenmann welcomed the role with an “open” attitude, which he emphasized in a speech.
“In Columbia, we will have open arms for everyone,” he said. “We’ll be a compassionate city that doesn’t just help people get along, but helps every community thrive. We will make sure that the sidewalks, the streets, and the schools in every corner of this city are clean and of a quality that make our residents proud,” adding that he hopes to increase home ownership, generational wealth and access to resources for small business owners.
Three new faces also are joining the council. Former South Carolina commerce chief Joe Taylor takes over Rickenmann’s District 4 council seat. Columbia attorney Tina Herbert replaces outgoing councilman Sam Davis representing District 1, and public health researcher Aditi Bussells fills the at-large seat being vacated by councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine.
Rickenmann arrived in Columbia in 1988 to attend the University of South Carolina, and then never left. He’s been a partner in several local restaurants, and now works as a business consultant. It was the early days of business ownership that ultimately led Rickenmann to seek office, he told the crowd Tuesday.
“As an entrepreneur, I could not help but notice the inefficiencies in the way our city operated. The experiences I had with the government here that enlightened me to the unintentional barriers our system has created,” he said. “So I ran for City Council to make a change. I wanted it to be easier for people to live, work, and raise a family here.”
To close his speech, Rickenmann promised open communication with the public and thanked Columbia’s residents.
“You heard our ideas and our goals and now you’ve given us a chance to go to work for all of you. I appreciate this trust and I won’t let you down. We will thrive together,” he said, ending with “I declare, the City of Columbia is now OPEN! Open for business, open for investment, open for ideas, open for collaboration, and open arms for all.”
Rickenmann was the last to take his oath of office Tuesday. Confetti shot from the stage when he finished his remarks.
Rickenmann plans to lead the city with a focus on public safety, small-business growth and broad economic development, he told The State in a recent Q&A.
“I think a lot of my focus is going to be here, by making sure that we’re investing in the city and that we’re fixing. It doesn’t matter where you go in the community, people are concerned about safety. They’re concerned about future growth and opportunities, jobs with advancement. They’re also worried about education, and then ... livability,” he said in that interview.
Rickenmann won a hard-fought victory, earning the most votes in the Nov. 2 general election, between himself and three others, with roughly 43% but failing to meet the greater-than-50-percent threshold to secure the contest.
The mayor’s race then went to a runoff election two weeks later, with Rickenmann facing attorney and fellow longtime council member Tameika Isaac Devine. He won that race with support from roughly 52% of voters.
Throughout his campaign, Rickenmann most heavily stressed the need for adequate public safety and Columbia’s tax problems. He encouraged the city’s commissioning of a property tax study, which was published in late 2020 and found high taxes have limited growth in Columbia.
Addressing issues raised in that study are among the new mayor’s top priorities, he’s said.
Rickenmann takes over amid a slew of ongoing projects and proposals, and as the city and state receive unprecedented federal aid from pandemic relief and a new infrastructure bill.
This story was originally published January 4, 2022 at 3:33 PM.
