Columbia mayors endorse Hillary Clinton

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton picked up the endorsements Wednesday of two top Columbia leaders.

Mayor Steve Benjamin and former Mayor Bob Coble were among nine S.C. mayors backing Clinton in February’s Democratic presidential primary.

“Hillary acts like a good mayor – she innovates, improvises and solves problems,” said Benjamin, president of the African American Mayors Association.

Coble, who made his first public appearance since suffering a heart attack at a Clinton event last week, said Clinton will bring a “laser focus on jobs, small business and economic development.”

The former first lady and secretary of state visited West Columbia on Thursday for a panel discussion with five S.C. mayors.

Other S.C. mayors backing Clinton include: Lake City’s Lovith Anderson; Orangeburg’s Michael Butler; Johnston’s Terrence Culbreath; Awendaw’s Miriam Green; Holly Hill’s William Johnson; Manning’s Julia Nelson; and Anderson’s Terence Roberts.

Jamie Self

This story was originally published July 29, 2015 at 2:55 PM.