To be an effective citizen, you have to be a knowledgeable one.
How does our local government work? Where can I have a say? Who can I go to if I have a problem? What resources are available to me?
Class is in session, Cola. We’re teaching Columbia Gov 101, where we break down different aspects of our local government to become engaged Soda Citizens that create healthier (and more effective) communities.
🧑⚖️ City Council
How does it work? Columbia operates under a council–manager form of government, where the elected City Council — including the mayor — develops policies, enacts laws, and appoints a City Manager to oversee daily operations.
City Manager Teresa Wilson | Serving since January 2013, Wilson oversees the city’s daily operations. She has led initiatives in fiscal management, public safety, and neighborhood development, earning Columbia 11 consecutive Government Finance Officers Association awards for fiscal excellence.
Columbia’s City Council is made up of:
- The Mayor
- Council District members (4)
- At-Large Council members (2).
Who’s who? Let’s start at the top. We’ll give you a peek into our City Council members, but strongly encourage you to get-to-know them by clicking on their names and exploring each member’s bio page on the City of Columbia’s website.
The Mayor
Daniel J. Rickenmann | Mayor Rickenmann was raised in Spartanburg, graduated from USC, was a local entrepreneur, served two stints on the Columbia city council, and was sworn in on January 4, 2022. He is serving a four-year term that runs through January 2026.
Councilwoman Tina N. Herbert, District One | Councilwoman Herbert is a workers’ compensation attorney with Mickle and Bass, LLC. She’s also a member of the Economic and Community Development Committee, the Public Safety Committee, and serves as chairwoman of the Technology Committee.
Councilman Edward H. McDowell Jr., District Two | Councilman McDowell is passionate about neighborhoods and serves as an Administrative Policy Committee Member, Arts and Historic Preservation Committee Member, and an Environment and Infrastructure Committee Chair member. His most recent term began in January 2024 and will run through January 2028.
Councilman Will Brennan, District Three | Councilman Brennan was born and raised in Columbia, currently lives in Hollywood-Rosehill, and owns both Brennan Works — a design and construction company — and Carolina Sky Development LLC — a Commercial Real Estate Development firm. He was re-elected on November 7, 2023, with 83% of the vote, and began his new term in January 2024, which runs through January 2028.
Councilman Peter Michael Brown, District Four | This seat was vacant after Councilman Joe E. Taylor Jr. unexpectedly died in 2022. A special election was held on March 28, 2023, and Brown was elected to serve the remainder of the term through January 2026.
At-Large Council members
Councilwoman Aditi Bussells, At-Large | A founding partner of Resilient Richland, Bussells was first elected in November 2021 and began her term in January 2022. She is serving a four-year term through January 2026. She has expressed interest in addressing the root causes of crime and bringing more family-supporting jobs to Columbia.
Tyler Bailey, At-Large | A Columbia native and civil rights attorney, Bailey is the founder of Bailey Law Firm, LLC. He was elected on November 7, 2023, succeeding Howard Duvall, and began his term in January 2024. He is serving through January 2028.
🏛️ Cities vs. counties
When we kicked off our Local Gov. 101 series, we asked in a survey what you wanted to know about local government — and you delivered plenty of questions.
One that came up often was how to tell the difference between the City of Columbia and Richland County when it comes to boundaries. Here’s how it works:
Each county has its system of government, and within each county, municipalities have their own elected officials — like mayors and councils — who govern within city or town limits.
Now let’s put that into perspective. Within Richland County, there are six municipal governments:
- Town of Arcadia Lakes
- Town of Blythewood
- City of Columbia
- Town of Eastover
- City of Forest Acres
- Town of Irmo
If you’re inside the City of Columbia limits, you’re governed by the Columbia City Council and Mayor. If you live outside any municipal boundary, you’re in unincorporated Richland County and represented by the Richland County Council.
Richland County’s GeoInfo Mapping Tool can show whether you’re in city limits and provide your council district, voting precinct, polling place, and representative.
The Richland County Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. All meetings are open to the public, and if you can’t make it in person, watch council meetings live online or watch archived Richland County Council meetings.
🏗 Planning and Development Services department
Have you ever explored the Planning and Development Services department tab on the City of Columbia’s website? This department’s goal is to oversee developments around the City to ensure that each project enhances the quality of life for citizens, promotes neighborhoods, supports businesses, and protects the environment.
It’s chock-full of city information and has a hand in historic preservation, design development, the Board of Zoning Appeals, street naming, and much more.
In addition to being a landing page for many city-related resources, it deals with four key parts of development:
Development Review and Permitting
- If you have an idea for construction — whether about commercial or trade permits — this is who you need to contact.
Building Inspections
- The department will review and monitor construction to make sure everything is up to code.
Planning
- The Planning Division will facilitate + implement plans for the City. It has heavy involvement with our business districts and neighborhoods. This department also works with historic preservation and urban design guidelines, think — the Bailey Bill. See what the planning division currently has in the works, including preparing for National Historic Preservation Month, Calhoun Street’s improvements, adding public seating on Main Street, and more.
Land Development and Zoning
- This department covers issues pertaining to the division of land, group developments, the placement of buildings, parking requirements, and more.
The Planning and Development Services also keeps a record of city projects by compiling public reports that assist policymakers, Soda citizens, and city staff when developing policies or initiating city programs. Explore the reporting page to stay up to date with the city’s happenings.
Lexington County at a glance
Lexington County operates under its county government with a nine-member County Council elected by district. Council members set county policy and oversee services for residents living outside municipal boundaries.
Within Lexington County, there are 14 municipalities:
- Batesburg-Leesville
- Cayce
- Chapin
- Gaston
- Gilbert
- Irmo
- Lexington
- Pelion
- Pine Ridge
- South Congaree
- Springdale
- Swansea
- West Columbia
If you live inside one of these municipalities, you’re governed by that town or city’s elected officials. If you live outside any municipal boundary, you’re in unincorporated Lexington County and represented by the Lexington County Council.
Lexington County Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and streamed online.
Not sure where you fall? Use the Lexington County GIS Map to check your location, see if you’re inside town or city limits, and find your County Council district.
