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HOME COLUMBIA IN THE NEWS OPINION TAKE ACTION RESOURCES ATLANTA AUSTIN EXAMPLES |
2008 CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS APRIL 1, 2008 The 2008 City Council elections will be important for our neighborhoods and for the city. Our District 3 council seat is in play as Anne Sinclair has decided not to rum again, and an at-large seat is open. Candidates for our City Council seat replacing Anne Sinclair include Brian Boyer, Belinda Gergel, and Reed Swearingen. Candidates for the at-large City Council seat include incumbent Daniel J. Rickenmann, and challengers Cameron A. Runyan, Lea Walker and Nammu Muhammad. The race has been covered in local news media in numerous articles pointing out the two camps that backing candidates. Sometimes it's neighborhood activists against business interests and developers. Sometimes it's liberal versus conservative. Sometimes it's reformers versus the broken status quo. We think that there is a lot more to it than that. The District 3 seat being vacated by Anne Sinclair is perhaps the more crucial race not only because it represents important in town neighborhoods including Shandon, Five Points, Rosewood, etc., but also because the election could tip the balance on Council towards developers, business interests and so-called power brokers. Everyone agrees that Columbia is in an enviable period of growth with projections of 250,000 more residents within the next ten years. This presents opportunities for smart growth that will determine the type of city Columbia will be in the foreseeable future and beyond. It also presents opportunities for developers and power brokers to line their pockets at the expense of the quality of life and neighborhood character that makes Columbia a desirable place to live. We believe that Belinda Gergel (http://www.runbelindarun.com) in District 3 and Cameron Runyan (http://www.cameronforcolumbia.com) for the At-Large seat are the candidates who will represent the interests of the residents of the city. Both candidates are concerned about accountability and transparency in city government. Both candidates promise to address the safety of the city's residents. Both candidates promise to preserve the vibrancy and quality of life in Columbia's neighborhoods. Both candidates are being heavily supported by residents of Columbia, not business interests. On the other hand, both Daniel Rickenmann and Brian Boyer have backers referred to in the media as "heavy hitters." One of the major "heavy hitters" is Don Tomlin, Boyer's brother-in-law. The "heavy hitters" were no doubt behind the misinformation mailing in support of crippling the Interim Measures for Community Character Protection ordinance. They are likely responsible for other shady political tactics beginning to surface. There is the possibility that the Interim Measures for Community Character Protection ordinance could be shelved, and that ongoing efforts to revise Columbia's zoning regulations and create a comprehensive plan for smart growth could be compromised. Make no mistake, the "heavy hitters" interests are their own and, although those interests may occasionally coincide with the residents and taxpayers of the City, our concerns will have little impact on their plans. In these last days before the election after The State newspaper has endorsed both Gergel and Runyan. Rickenmann and Boyer have trotted out last minute desperate tactics. Rickenmann with a mailing warning about negative campaign tactics. Boyer with comments claiming a conflict of interest by Gergel, and a letter from none other than the Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party. If the SC GOP is grooming Boyer for higher office, they forgot to mention that beer-fueled brawls are out of bounds! Rickenmann upset an incumbent four years ago. He campaigned on "fresh ideas". Unfortunately, they mostly remained ideas, and accountability from City Council and city government has been on the decline during his term. Boyer has tried to portray Gergel as an insider or an outsider depending on his angle of attack. The fact is that Boyer is inexperienced in government and backed by Columbia's power brokers, making him both an outsider and an insider. The increasing costs of these City Council campaigns directly relates to what is at stake. Fortunes for developers, real estate interests and power brokers. The future of the City of Columbia's direction of development, the character of in town neighborhoods, and the ability of the residents and taxpayers to have a voice in city government. Belinda Gergel and Cameron Runyan will bring a breath of fresh air to City Council with experience, enthusiasm and an inclusive vision for Columbia's future. |