​Business Community Partners to Fund Parade

Mayor Steve Benjamin and Columbia City Councilheld a parade today, July 2, 2010, that drew a crowd of approximately 42,000 citizens, Gamecock fans and supporters to the State House grounds.

Dear friends,

On June 30th, I will stand before the people of Columbia and swear the oath of office to become mayor.

COLUMBIA, SC – Municipal leaders from the Midlands and across South Carolina today endorsed Steve Benjamin’s campaign for Mayor of Columbia.
 
“We are all facing the same challenges and, in this economy it is vital that we pool our resources and face them together,” said Blythewood Mayor Keith Bailey. “Steve Benjamin is the only candidate who truly understands that. He’s the only one who has expressed a truly regional vision for Columbia.”
 
Benjamin said today’s endorsement further demonstrates a willingness to think outside the box so Columbia can finally live up to its potential as a regional and statewide leader.
 
“Right now the Columbia’s leaders aren’t talking to anyone outside of Columbia,” Benjamin says. “That has to change. The stakes are too high to simply go it alone.”

COLUMBIA, SC - Columbia mayoral candidate Steve Benjamin called on the Mayor and all City Council Members to forgo half of their city salaries for two years as part of a larger plan to eliminate waste and maximize efficiency within Columbia's City Government.
 

This was a fantastic and eventful week as we continued our push to bring Bold, New Leadership to the city of Columbia! Because of the energetic response that we have gotten from supporters all over the city, we have been able to effectively address the key challenges that our city is facing:

In these difficult times when many struggle in the shadows of fear and despair, I can think of few celebrations more fitting than a festival of light.

I can think of few better expressions of community than reminding those who are less fortunate that they do not stand alone and that even the deepest darkness can be driven away with the lighting of a single candle.

So it is with faith and hope in our hearts that we wish you a safe and happy Hanukkah.  From our family to yours, we say, "Shalom."

Like most of you, I have watched with mounting frustration as the drama of our city’s financial woes has played out in the media. Each new revelation of irresponsible spending, shoddy accounting, and ballooning debt has further reinforced my conviction that an underlying Culture of Carelessness has entrenched itself in our City Hall.

Nowhere is this development more disturbing than in Council’s neglect of our city’s public safety.

The City of Columbia has slashed public safety funding by almost $9 million and the consequences of these decisions are as far reaching as they are dire. Still, too many of our leaders are refusing to see these hard truths.

I hope all of you had a safe and happy holiday. Our family was glad to be able to take a short break from the rigors of the campaign and celebrate Thanksgiving and the many things we have for which to be thankful.

We spent time with all of the grandparents at Aunt Beverly and Uncle Bobby's -- feasting on turkey and dressing, playing endless games of Wii with the girls and their cousins, watching lots football, and, most importantly, enjoying each other's company.

On Friday, we continued our tradition of chopping down the family Christmas tree. (I took the picture of my wife Deandrea and our girls, Bethany and Jordan Grace, shortly after cutting down this year's tree.)  Check out other holiday iPhone photos on our Flickr page.

Thanks for stopping by!