The First Black Mayor for the Capital of SOUTH CAROLINA

I can only speculate at this time that the state and city I live in currently since 1989. Might be getting it's very first African-American Mayor. His name will be Steve Benjamin. Ironically, his opponent is a White-American,Kirkman Finlay. Today voters are at the polls trying to decide who will be next Mayor for the capital of South Carolina. I will not go deep into their backgrounds. Just do a Internet search. And you will find some glowing information about both of these well respected Mayoral candidates and both very prominent leaders in the Capital and this state.
Mr. Benjamin basically is a businessman with little if no experience in city government. Mr. Finlay is an old hand in city government and city politics. And he resigned his City Council seat to run for Mayor, a seat that was very secure from any challenge and a seat that he fought hard for to get elected to his office. Now it seems like I'd endorse him. He sounds like the perfect person to be the next Mayor. And of course he and Mr. Benjamin spent a pretty nice amount of money running for the office of Mayor. But as they say in track and field here's where Mr. Benjamin with the finish line in view gets that last burst of speed and overtakes Mr. Finlay. Recently, as of this past Sunday Mr. Finlay and Mr. Benjamin were having an on the radio debate. One of our local television networks,W.I.S channel 10 was the sponsor,Judy Gatson was the moderator. For me up until I listened to that Sunday's debate, I'd pretty much settled for Mr. Finlay based on his experience. But the news anchor Mrs. Gatson allowed them to question each other during the debate and that put the "KIBOSH" on Mr. Finlay. The question from Mr. Benjamin and I am paraphrasing so I hope I get this right future Mayor Benjamin,"You want us (citizens of Richland county/City of Columbia) to give you four more years in the office of Mayor ? After we already gave you four years previous to that that you mismanaged and squandered." That is what made me change my mind and put my allegiance and my show of support to Mr. Benjamin's camp and to supporting him to be our next Mayor for the capital of the metro (our affectionate name for the city of Columbia). With those simple statements from Mr. Benjamin to Mr. Finlay I could see no light at the end of the Finlay tunnel. Steve was right. I live in the capital. And have lived in the city. And yes the city council does a horrible job. Or rather they did. Of course now they are trying clean up their act. Mayor Robert Coble was one of the longest serving Mayors in this states history. He had been in office for twenty years. But even that proud dedication in the office of Mayor could not get him another term which could have made him one of longest serving Mayors in US history. But all was for naught. Mayor Coble started coming under fire for losing control of city council and the horrible way they mismanaged money names like Council woman Tameika Devine and some kind of business deal that involved her and her mother came under the scrutiny of HUD. Then Councilman EW Cromartie recently came under fire for tax evasion. Some called this powerful rotund African-American gentleman "Mayor Jr." due to the momentous influence he had over City council and the influence he had over Mayor Coble. Then the city lost its City Manager Charles Austin the story is that he quit or resigned but we all know it was resign or get fired. Why did he get the boot? Sexual misconduct charges were filed against him form another City employee and Mayor Coble claims that it did not happen and that he saw nothing. Now here is where Mr. Finlay fits into the messy city government equation. Lots of money mismanagement. Paying a bill once and then paying that bill again. Can you say waste. Paying two separate colleges for a "gang study" to the tune of 30K thousand dollars. The schools were the University of South Carolina and Benedict College. Of course we could have saved the city council the waste of money and notified them that they did not need a study. We knew we had a major gang problem. This came out on a program broadcast by the History Channel. Of course Mr. Finlay as a "sheeple" went along with the Old Guard style of city politics. City council members many times voted behind closed doors that locked out we regular types. On issues such as the current increasing problem of finding a solution for the dismal Public Transportation problems in the states capital and to help the Homeless (the men,women and especially tons of homeless children who even try their best to attend school without a place to live). So when Steve Benjamin asked Mr. Finlay why should we give you more time in office (because the city really messed up and are still trying to straighten out the money problems) I also said to myself enough is enough. I think it is time for a new Mayor. And perhaps he can bring about a change in the business as usual in city government. Throughout this writing you have not heard me make any mention as if I voted for Mr. Benjamin. Would you be shocked to know that I can't vote him because at first I was going to vote for Kirkman Finlay. But I can't vote because I no longer live in the city I now live in the county of Columbia. By law that makes me unable to cast a ballot. But the catch-22 I still go to the city. I conduct my business in the city. I use parking meters. I eat at the restaurants and enjoy the different venues an so on and pay hospitality tax. But I can't vote for my Mayor. Mr. Benjamin when you get into office and I just believe you will (and not just me many of all races,ethnic backgrounds and from all walks of life believe in you Steve and your vision because somewhere along the way Mayor Coble lost that vision). In 1990 when I was a student at the University of South Carolina in a Newspaper Journalism workshop. I actually met a new and fresh face in the Mayor's office that was Mayor Robert Coble then so full of ideas and so promising for a revitalization of the city of Columbia and Richland County. Twenty years later like a jet aircraft coming in for a crash landing he wiped-out. Learn from his mistakes and I hope you don't lose the vision of your office like he did. I look forward to writing my second installment for you Mr. Benjamin when you secure the victory!!!