John Crangle, Columbia City Council at-large candidate

John Crangle 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.

Crangle recently responded to a candidate questionnaire from The State.

Name: John Crangle

Age: 81

Occupation: Professor and attorney

Education: Ph.D. and JD

Political or civic experience: Ethics lobbyist for over 30 years

Why are you running for this office?

I’m concerned about the amount of crime in Columbia. I want to reduce the shortage of police officers.

If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year in office?

Advocate for hiring more police officers within the city. Impose a curfew on bars at 12:30 a.m.

What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to city governance?

I’ve been politically active for over 30 years. As an educator I’ve been teaching for over 50 years, and I’ve lived in Columbia for over 40 years.

What current practice or policy of the city would you preserve or enhance? Why?

The economic development of the city has improved, and I plan to help the city grow and attract businesses and jobs for our citizens.

This story was originally published October 8, 2021 at 2:12 PM.

Chris Trainor

The State

Chris Trainor is a retail reporter for The State and has been working for newspapers in South Carolina for more than 21 years, including previous stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free Times. He is the winner of a host of South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in column writing, government beat reporting, profile writing, food writing, business beat reporting, election coverage, social media and more.