Mayor Steve Benjamin endorsed Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine for mayor in Columbia’s runoff election, which will take place Nov. 16. Photo by Ken Patterson
Three days after Columbia’s four-way mayoral election failed to produce a winner, Mayor Steve Benjamin on Friday endorsed fellow city council member Tameika Isaac Devine in an upcoming runoff.
Benjamin, who is stepping down after a decade as mayor, selected Devine over Daniel Rickenmann, another member of city council, who will be facing Devine in the runoff election Nov. 16.
“It is vitally important to me to ensure that our city chooses the leader who is the most qualified, most experienced, and the clear choice to move Columbia forward and that is Councilwoman Tameika Issac Devine,” Benjamin said in a statement.
Prior to Tuesday’s election, Benjamin had announced his support for Sam Johnson, his former aide. Johnson won 24.35% of the vote Tuesday, short of Devine’s 30.22% and Rickenmann’s 43.51%. A fourth candidate, Moe Baddourah garnered only 1.88% percent of the vote. As no candidate won more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election was called.
Benjamin’s support of Devine is not unexpected. Johnson and Devine shared many similar goals during the mayoral campaign, including the implementation of community policing, competing with other state capitals’ development using an “economic toolkit” and increasing equity and social justice measures in Columbia.
Several polling places have been closed or changed for the runoff election. To see a complete list of precincts, click here. Altered precincts are highlighted. To find your polling place, click here.
Absentee voting for the runoff election will take place Nov. 8- Nov. 15 at 2011 Hampton St. and 2020 Hampton St. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
