With a week until runoff, Columbia mayor hopefuls talk public safety, jobs at forum
With a week to go before voters have their final say as to who should be the next mayor of Columbia, candidates Daniel Rickenmann and Tameika Isaac Devine talked public safety, economic development and more Monday afternoon.
The Columbia Chamber hosted Rickenmann and Devine at a candidate forum at the Carolina Theater on the campus of the University of South Carolina. USC Professor of political science Kirk Randazzo moderated the conversation.
The field to be Columbia’s next mayor was cut in half during municipal election voting on Nov. 2. Rickenmann, a city councilman in District 4, finished first, taking in 43.5% of the vote. Devine, an at-large councilwoman, finished second with 30.2%, while former mayoral aide Sam Johnson got 24.3%. Former City Councilman Moe Baddourah got 1.9%. Because no candidate got more than 50% of the votes on Nov. 2, the runoff was triggered for Nov. 16.
Rickenmann said Monday that his top three priorities heading into the runoff are public safety, cutting regulations for businesses and addressing affordable housing. In the realm of public safety he said the recruitment and retention of officers will be critical.
“Officers need to know we stand behind them and that we are going to support them,” he said. “Not only is that about financial support, but making sure they have state of the art equipment. That (support) means that we have wellness programs both for their mental health and physical health. There’s much more demands on an officer today than there ever has been.”
Devine listed public safety, affordable housing and improving equity throughout the city as three of her priorities. She said having a safe city is key to retaining and recruiting people to live and work here.
“(The city should) expand the technology like ShotSpotter and cameras, but also invest in a state of the art forensic lab so (the police department) can solve crimes internally,” Devine said.
ShotSpotter is a gunshot detection technology that covers six square miles in areas of north and north central Columbia that have been particularly plagued by gunfire. Columbia started using the technology in 2019. Rickenmann also has advocated for its expansion.
While overall crime in Columbia has dipped slightly in 2021, violent crime is up 11% in the capital city compared to a year ago, according to recent Columbia Police Department statistics.
The candidates also talked about steps they would take to help improve commercial investment in Columbia. Devine said workforce development is important.
“That’s making sure we are investing in resources, whether that’s partnering with Midlands Tech and our institutions of higher ed, or partnering with K-12, that are providing and training and building a skilled workforce that is not only available for the jobs that are available here today, but the jobs we want to recruit,” Devine said. “Having that skilled workforce is paramount.”
Rickenmann said reducing “red tape” that slows down business, finding ways to tackle the Columbia area’s tax rates, and promoting and selling the community to bring in outside investment are key initiatives.
“We need to revamp our economic development efforts and do what other communities like Greenville; Lexington, Kentucky; Austin; Raleigh, Charlotte, North Carolina; and Atlanta are doing which is actually going out and recruiting development teams and bringing them here and showing them what we have to offer,” Rickenmann said.
The candidates are vying to replace outgoing Mayor Steve Benjamin, who didn’t seek re-election this year after three terms. Benjamin initially endorsed Johnson, his former chief of staff, in the race, but after Johnson was eliminated Benjamin announced he would support Devine in the runoff. Johnson also announced he would back Devine in the runoff.
In-person absentee voting for the runoff began Monday at the Richland County elections office, at 2020 Hampton St. Absentee ballots can also be cast at 2011 Hampton St. Absentee voting will continue until Monday, Nov. 15, the day before polling places open for runoffs in the Columbia mayor’s race and at-large city council seat. The voting office will be closed on Nov. 11, which is Veterans Day.
