COLUMBIA, SC - Two candidates seeking to become Columbia's first African-American mayor responded Wednesday after someone painted a racial slur on the side of City Hall.

 

Authorities say someone spray painted the racist graffiti sometime Tuesday night on the side of the building, which is located at Main and Laurel streets.

 

The slur said "No [expletive] mayor," using an epithet known as the "N-word." There are two announced African-American candidates running for mayor in 2010, attorney Steve Benjamin and retired Army Lt. Col. Gary Myers, Jr.

 

"It is so sad that with the number of difficult challenges faced by the city, I am commenting on racist graffiti," Myers said Wednesday afternoon. "There is a very small segment of our society that does not want to move forward."

 

Benjamin held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the incident.

 

"I was disgusted this morning to learn that what should be a symbol of inclusion in our representative democracy had been vandalized with bigotry and intolerance," said Benjamin in a statement.

 

"The challenges facing our city are as serious as the stakes are high. We cannot address them distracted by ignorance," continued Benjamin. "We cannot overcome them if we are divided by hate."

 

The city acted quickly to wipe out any traces of the offensive words. A city work crew used a pressure washer to strip the paint off the Laurel Street side of the building.

 

City officials, including Mayor Bob Coble, held a news conference at 9:00am.

 

"This is not Columbia. This is not what Columbia stands for," said Mayor Coble, who called the act cowardly. "This incident is not reflective our city."

 

"Columbia will not allow the sick acts of a few to define or defile the beautiful soul of the whole, or stop progress in this Capital City," continued Myers. "My message to them is that Columbia can be a great city and will move in that direction, with or without them."

 

Mayor Coble said police will review surveillance cameras in the area as part of their investigation. There are several, including those at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court building next door and a traffic camera over the intersection.

 

Other candidates for mayor in 2010 include City Councilman Kirkman Finlay, businessman Joe Azar and attorney Steve Morrison. Mayor Coble will not run again, after serving five terms in office.

 

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