Mayor Benjamin’s longtime aides have left; he’s seeking replacements

Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin is looking for two key aides now that both of the employees who have been at his side since Benjamin’s first term have left.

Sam Johnson, who has been attending law school at the University of South Carolina, left Feb. 15, the mayor said Wednesday. Johnson is a law clerk at the Nexsen Pruet law firm, Benjamin said. Johnson began working about a week ago for Benjamin’s predecessor, Bob Coble, the former mayor said.

Benjamin said the city is advertising for an “executive adviser” and will do the same in two weeks for a media and policy staffer. The salary for the new executive adviser ranges from $47,858 to $74,180, the city’s personnel director said.

Michael Wukela held the media and policy post until he left late last year to become a director of a nonprofit advocacy group. His salary was $69,332, according to city records.

Wukela and Johnson had been Benjamin’s key aides since his 2010 election and had worked on Benjamin’s campaign staff before he was elected Columbia’s first African-American mayor.

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 2:14 PM.