Dr. Aditi Bussells, Columbia City Council at-large candidate
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Columbia City Council, At-large Candidates
Who are the candidates running for an at-large seat with Columbia City Council? Read these candidates questionnaires to learn more about their stance on issues in your community with our Voter Guide, exclusive to The State subscribers.
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Dr. Aditi Bussells is one of seven candidates running for an at-large seat on Columbia City Council.
The at-large seat is elected citywide. The seven hopefuls are vying for the seat currently held by Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine, who is running for mayor this year. Devine has held the seat for 19 years.
The election is on Nov. 2, with runoffs on Nov. 16, if necessary.
Bussells recently responded to a candidate questionnaire from The State.
Name: Dr. Aditi Bussells
Age: 31
Occupation: Public health researcher
Education: Ph.D., University of South Carolina; MPH, The George Washington University; BA, University of Virginia
Political or civic experience: Mayor-appointed committee member, City of Columbia of Complete Count Committee; member, Future of Columbia Commission; board member, Columbia Opportunity Resource; board member, Richland County Public Education Partners; project lead, Leadership Columbia Class of 2021; philanthropy advisor, Alpha Chi Omega at the University of Virginia; advocacy and civic engagement chair (2020), Columbia Urban League Young Professionals.
Campaign website: http://www.aditiforthecity.com
Why are you running for this office?
Coming out of this pandemic, Columbia is at a turning point. Either we will make data-driven decisions to spur economic growth and promote equity, or we will choose to remain status quo and continue to see our population and job market stagnate. I am running for city council at-large because I am passionate about our city and want to build a more prosperous future for all citizens. From developing solutions to promote well-being for children and families that have experienced immense hardship, to launching Resilient Richland, a county-wide initiative focused on preventing childhood trauma, to advocating for common sense reform in local government through my participation on various local boards, I have affected positive change through coalition building, partnership engagement, and data-based solutions. As a public health researcher and advocate, I will bring much-needed expertise, energy, and perspective to the table.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year in office?
My top three priorities include: making Columbia more competitive and prosperous, keeping our neighborhoods safe, and addressing our crumbling infrastructure. I will fight to ease the burden on families and small businesses, eliminating unnecessary barriers for new investment. We will never generate the necessary revenue to improve our infrastructure and our schools without growing our economy with more family-supporting jobs. I will work with law enforcement, community leaders, the university, and churches to address rising crime and the root causes of crimes. Finally, we cannot keep being attracted by shiny objects while some neighborhoods sometimes do not have potable water, our water and sewer system is outdated and polluting our rivers, and our roads are in dire need of repair. These goals are achievable, but they require collaboration between multiple levels of government and community.
What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to city governance?
The past year has brought countless challenges as we all continue to face the pandemic together. We have seen the impact COVID-19 has had on families, communities, and businesses. Now more than ever, we need experts who understand data and science to help guide our city out of this pandemic and ensure communities and small businesses are resilient and set up for success. As a public health researcher, I have dedicated my career to ensuring all our diverse communities and families have the tools they need to live healthy lives and succeed. Through my involvement in various Columbia area initiatives and projects, I have proven my ability to energize and mobilize people of all walks of life to develop bold solutions for the complex problems facing our community. That’s exactly what I plan to do in city government as Columbia’s next at-large council representative.
What current practice or policy of the city would you preserve or enhance? Why?
The recent efforts by the city (to) highlight local artists through public art and murals across our neighborhoods is one that I would like to see continue. Art allows our community to connect. It provides us the opportunity to preserve our history and to push our thinking forward. Whether we are consuming it or creating it, art brings value (to) Columbia. I’d also like to enhance the many public safety and violence prevention programs that the city has implemented, including ShotSpotter. When our neighborhoods are safe, our future generations can thrive. Finally, the city recently commissioned a study that helped us understand why Columbia has not seen growth compared to cities like Charleston, Rock Hill, and Greenville. I appreciate city council’s discussions on how to proceed based on these data, noting that collaboration is key. I’d like to move these conversations to action by calling on our local school board and Richland County Council to help us remove some of the barriers identified.
This story was originally published October 8, 2021 at 2:13 PM.
