SC Democrats salute Charleston mayor’s career

Outgoing Charleston Mayor Joe Riley said he has asked himself the same question many times during his 40 years in office.

“Does this meet the 50-year test ... what are we doing, and how do we positively impact generations to come?” Riley told S.C. Democrats gathering at their annual Jefferson-Jackson fundraising dinner Friday, honoring the long-serving Democratic mayor.

But Riley, retiring this year, said he has one more major project to complete.

“America does not know one part of American history,” he said. “That is the African-American part. It was never taught to us in school. It was hidden because of embarrassment or timidity about the trans-Atlantic slave trade or Jim Crow.”

Riley said he’s eager to see the completion of the International African-American Museum built on the wharf in Charleston where slaves were brought.

“For us to know who we are as Americans, we have to understand African-American history,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., introduced Riley Friday night, saying he first met him during the hospital and garbage workers strikes in Charleston in the late 1960s. Riley asked Clyburn‘s help in bringing the garbage workers’ strike to a resolution.

A year later, Clyburn said Riley supported his campaign for the state House because Riley wanted African-American representation in the Legislature.

S.C. Democrats also honored state Sen. John Matthews, D-Orangeburg, for his service to the state, and Patricia Goodman for her work in Beaufort enrolling people in health care plans under the federal Affordable Care Act.

On Saturday, Democrats have their state convention, when they hear from potential 2016 White House hopefuls, including former Govs. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island and Martin O’Malley of Maryland, and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe will appear on behalf of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and David “Mudcat” Saunders will represent former U.S. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia.

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia delivered the keynote address Friday night, encouraging Democrats to remember their party’s successes and the opposition they have faced from across the aisle.

Warner finished by saying who he’ll support in the Democrats’ 2016 presidential primary: “I’ve already made my choice known – I’m ready for Hillary.”

This story was originally published April 24, 2015 at 11:35 PM with the headline "SC Democrats salute Charleston mayor’s career."