COLUMBIA — Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin has endorsed his former aide in the race to succeed him in the mayor's office.
Sam Johnson, 33, picked up Benjamin's endorsement over City Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine, a longtime ally who is godmother to one of the mayor's daughters. Benjamin also passed over Councilman Daniel Rickenmann and former Councilman Moe Baddourah, who also are running to succeed the mayor not seeking a fourth term.
“I think it’s the new energy; it’s the new ideas,” Benjamin said Sept. 8 in response to why he picked Johnson instead of those he’s worked with on council.
Johnson now has the backing of three members of the council to lead South Carolina's second-largest city, with outgoing District 1 representative Sam Davis and District 2's Ed McDowell previously announcing their support for his campaign.
The city election is Nov. 2.
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin announces he is endorsing former aide Sam Johnson to succeed him. Stephen Fastenau/Staff
Johnson worked in Benjamin's office the first six years of his tenure, with a hand in the BullStreet redevelopment and Famously Hot New Year event. While Johnson has not held elected office, his campaign has claimed the most experience in the mayor's office by virtue of his time as Benjamin's assistant.
"I know that he has the heart of a lion and the compassion that comes with fatherhood, it changes your perspective on the world," Benjamin said.
Benjamin supported Johnson over Devine, seeking to become the city's first woman to hold the office. Rickenmann is finishing his third term on council, having held an at-large seat for eight years before winning a seat to represent District 4 for his current term.
In securing the support of Davis and McDowell, Johnson was also able to advance his top policy proposal: that the city hire a public health chief to oversee the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and any ongoing health issues in the city.
Now with Benjamin publicly on Johnson's side, the proposal could receive a more urgent push, though Devine and Rickenmann have questioned the need for such a position and requested a harder look at options for addressing health issues.
Johnson also has called for hiring dozens of new police officers and raising pay for police and fire employees.
After leaving Benjamin's office, Johnson earned a law degree from the University of South Carolina and works as a policy adviser and consultant at Nexsen Pruet and its public relations arm, NP Strategy.
Devine, who has served on council since 2002, said in launching her campaign she hadn't sought the mayor's endorsement and would focus on earning votes. Devine has secured endorsements from former council members Hamilton Osborne, Anne Sinclair and Luther Battiste.
She announced the endorsement of Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, a Columbia native, on social media soon after Benjamin's backing of Johnson. "She is going to work hard and do all the right things for all of us," Lyles said in a video.
Four of the seven seats on City Council will have new members in 2022.
In addition to the mayor's race, seven candidates are running for Devine's citywide seat: Tyler Bailey, Heather Bauer, Aditi Bussells, John Crangle, Deitra Matthews, John Tyler and Aaron Smalls. Developer and former state commerce chief Joe Taylor is running unopposed for Rickenmann's seat representing areas east of downtown.
Former city department head and attorney Tina Herbert is facing Christa Williams, a Department of Corrections officer and nonprofit founder, in the race to replace Davis for District 1.
