Meet the two candidates running for Columbia City Council in District One
The Columbia City Council election in District One has two candidates running for a four-year term through 2029. I asked each about their priorities and perspectives. Their answers are below.
Every candidate received 10 questions and 250 words for each answer. Interviews were edited for accuracy, clarity and style and published in their entirety. The McClatchy South Carolina Editorial Board will publish an endorsement in the race, but we are publishing Q&As first so readers can assess the candidates on their own. Early voting begins Oct. 20, and Election Day is Nov. 4.
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Meet the candidates
Councilwoman Tina Herbert
Q: What is your No. 1 priority for the city of Columbia and why?
A: Affordable housing, both rentals and homeownership. If the city can create more affordable housing, we can address several issues beyond just housing. It helps reduce homelessness, especially among people who are working but still unhoused. It allows families to stay in their communities longer and build stronger support systems. Frequent moves disrupt children’s home life and education. Finally, affordable rentals give individuals the chance to save and work toward homeownership, if that’s their goal, and begin building wealth.
Q: How will you address local housing affordability and availability?
A: The city has already adopted a five-year residential real estate strategy to fill residential lots currently owned by the city. Through our lending programs, we can provide affordable financing for homeownership. By carrying out this strategy, we will increase both the availability and affordability of homes.
Q: Grade Columbia’s approach to homelessness. What would you do differently?
A: On a scale of one to five, I’d give the city a four for helping individuals find permanent housing. The Rapid Shelter program has been effective in that regard. However, the bigger concern for most people is the visible signs of homelessness in our streets and neighborhoods. On that, I’d give the city a three to four. We need more partners and resources to provide appropriate mental health services for individuals who reject current homeless services.
Q: How specifically would you reduce crime and improve public safety?
A: We are working to reduce crime by creating more opportunities for youth to be positively engaged. As scripture says, “an idle mind is the devil’s workplace.” I will continue to support safe, positive environments for youth and young adults.
Q: What would you do to capitalize on economic development in Columbia?
A: Columbia has seen strong growth and private investment in some areas, while others — particularly City Council District One — have lagged behind. The city must provide the infrastructure that attracts private investment. And in areas where we want to be intentional, we can use public funds to leverage private dollars. A good example is the facade program downtown: The city invested about $425,000, which leveraged $6.1 million in private investment.
Q: How will you maximize and protect Finlay Park after its $25 million renovation?
A: In the early 2000s, I often spent my lunch breaks at Finlay Park. When it reopens, I plan to return regularly. Beyond that, we must budget for security and maintenance to keep the park vibrant and welcoming.
Q: If the state threatens to withhold funds from the city again, how will you respond?
It depends on the situation. I would need to know what funds are at risk and why they are being withheld. Each case would have to be addressed individually.
Q: List one budget cut and one new expense you think is necessary. Explain why.
A: To save money, the city should update existing plans or studies whenever possible, instead of starting from scratch. For a new expense, we need to dedicate more resources to keeping Columbia clean.
Q: What is one issue we didn’t mention that deserves more attention and why?
A: Recruiting police officers remains a challenge nationwide, and Columbia is no exception. Without adequate staffing, officers have less time for community and relationship-building, which is essential to building public trust.
Q: Why should voters choose you over your opponent in this election?
A: For the past four years, I’ve worked to show that serving on City Council is an opportunity to change lives. I advocated for over $1 million to launch the Mobile Food Market to address food insecurity and the Office of Neighborhood Engagement to combat youth violence. I created the Youth Services Guide that now reaches hundreds of families, and I’ve fought to preserve Columbia’s Black history. I’ve also worked with colleagues to revitalize older neighborhoods, one home at a time.
But there’s more to do. We still have vacant residential lots that can become homeownership opportunities for families who thought the American dream was out of reach. More homeownership not only builds generational wealth but also adds properties to the tax rolls, giving the city more resources to invest back into our communities. Our main corridors still have vacant storefronts — I want to see the lights back on. I’ll keep fighting for more economic investment, safer neighborhoods, and cleaner streets in District One.
Christa Williams
Q: What is your No. 1 priority for the city of Columbia and why?
A: My No. 1 priority is putting safety first. I worked over a decade in the South Carolina Department of Corrections and have seen the effects of not having the appropriate funding and community engagement in place to prevent crime in the first place. I cannot wait to be elected to work with state partners like Corrections and the departments of Mental Health, Juvenile Justice, and Probation, Parole and Pardon Services to develop and implement plans to prevent and reduce crime and promote safety in our city.
Q: How will you address local housing affordability and availability?
A: When elected, I plan to ensure that our communities are resourceful. I will ensure that we implement a plan to improve existing homes and fill vacant lots with homes that residents in our city can afford. I will advocate for empowering small construction and renovation businesses in our communities and work with them to develop affordable housing projects of new and existing homes. I will also proactively work with developers on new projects in our city to ensure that affordable housing is at the heart of every project as we expand the city.
Q: Grade Columbia’s approach to homelessness. What would you do differently?
A: I believe the city of Columbia is currently providing resources within our city that provide adequate meals and adequate transitional housing for the unhoused population. When elected, I will add to that by advocating that the city partner with state agencies like Corrections; Probation, Parole and Pardon Services; Juvenile Justice, and Mental Health in order to proactively keep track of the existing unhoused population that we currently have and what we can all do proactively through health treatment, job training and affordable housing to decrease the number of unhoused residents. I would also advocate to designate a secure housing facility (a structure that is already existing) in partnership with state government for our unhoused community.
Q: How specifically would you reduce crime and improve public safety?
A: My No. 1 priority is putting safety first. I worked over a decade in Corrections and have seen the effects of not having the appropriate funding and community engagement in place to prevent crime in the first place. I cannot wait to be elected to work with state partners like Corrections and the departments of Mental Health, Juvenile Justice, and Probation, Parole and Pardon Services to develop and implement plans to prevent and reduce crime and promote safety in our city. Partnership with community organizations is essential. I will work with nonprofits, churches and independent organizations that have a passion for safety and crime prevention.
Q: What would you do to capitalize on economic development in Columbia?
A: When elected, I will advocate to capitalize on economic development by closing the wealth gap. I believe people who live and work in our city should have the opportunity to build wealth in our city. Finlay Park was a $25 million project but how many small businesses and people who are taxpayers within the city were educated and prepared to contract or be subcontractors on this project?
When elected, I want to change that. I believe that small businesses operating and residents who live in the city should be the beneficiaries of these multimillion-dollar projects because when we empower local folks, they will be more inclined to reinvest back into their own communities in areas of crime prevention, beautification, growing small businesses, etc.
Q: How will you maximize and protect Finlay Park after its $25 million renovation?
A: When elected, I will advocate for the protection of Finlay Park by the implementation of ordinances and requirements that make the park and surrounding communities safer. I will ensure that we designate adequate funding each year to maintain the park and look at ways that we can consistently improve the park’s environmental footprint by working with local conservation groups.
Q: If the state threatens to withhold funds from the city again, how will you respond?
A: When elected, I will review each situation independently to determine my response. I do plan to work with the legal team within the city and also community legal partners to address future occurrences of the state threatening to withhold funding from our city. As an elected official of the city, it will be my duty to protect the interests of those who have elected me.
Q: List one budget cut and one new expense you think is necessary. Explain why.
A: Once I am elected and have had a chance to thoroughly review the priorities of where our funding is currently spent, then I will be able to make an accurate assessment of expenditures that could be reduced or potentially left out of the budget altogether.
Q: What is one issue we didn’t mention that deserves more attention and why?
A: One issue that is not listed is closing the wealth gap. There are billions of dollars that come into our state and millions that come into our city. I believe that if you are a taxpaying resident and a small business owner in our city, you should be a priority. The city should be doing business with our residents and small businesses, and we as a City Council should be able to measure the growth that we have established in our own communities.
Q: Why should voters choose you over your opponent in this election?
A: Voters should choose me over my opponent because I am not running to tout my credentials and sit back with a feeling of entitlement because I grew up and went to school in a local neighborhood. I am a candidate for office that understands our communities need more than me and my educational background to sustain. The community needs proper funding, proper partnership and the proper wealth building mechanisms so that you, your children and your grandchildren will want to stay here because there is opportunity within the city Of Columbia. If you want a fierce fighter who will not sit back, and work to ensure that you and your family receive the best service that the city can offer, vote Christa Williams on Nov. 4.
This story was originally published October 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM.