The City of Columbia’s municipal election day is still two months away (Nov. 7 – and you must be registered to vote by Oct. 7), but the ballot is set. Who’s running for what?
✔️ Mayor | current Mayor Steve Benjamin will run uncontested for his third term since entering office in 2010
✔️ District I Council Member (Elmwood + Cottontown area) | Councilman Sam Davis is seeking his fifth term vs. Chris Sullivan, 27-year-old PR agency owner who’s been involved in politics since the age of six
✔️ District 4 Council Member (Heathwood + Lake Katherine area) | Councilman Daniel Rickenmann will run unopposed, seeking to return this year after his partial term last year when he filled the late Councilwoman Leona Plaugh’s seat
✔️ At-Large Council Member (a.k.a. does not represent one specific region) | Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine is seeking her fifth term vs. Joe Azar, owner of Five Points’ Upstairs Audio and Video, who’s run repeatedly
Some interesting numbers:
🔘 four years | how long all Council terms last
🔘 $1,000 | the cost to file to run for Mayor
🔘 $530 | the cost to file to run for Council
🔘 $75,000/year | the salary for the Mayor’s seat
🔘 $13,350/year | the salary for Council members’ seats
The election is nonpartisan – meaning “Democrat” or “Republican” will not appear next to the names you’ll see on the ballot.
