City races could be heated, file deadline is Aug. 10
If interest in county races during the May primary is any indication, the non-partisan city races in November could bring a lot of new faces into the election process.
Two incumbents and one newcomer have already filed for the six city council spots and two people have filed for the mayor’s race.
With Mayor Pat Bell retiring, the city’s top office is up for grabs. At least one council position will also not be filled with an incumbent now that councilman Charles Grimsley is running for mayor.
Columbia residents have until Aug. 10 to file for the mayor and council races. Regardless of the number of candidates in the non-partisan races, the top vote-getter will win the mayor’s race and the top six vote-getters will win the council seats.
As of Tuesday, Columbia Police Chief Mark Harris and Grimsley, a council member and businessman, have filed for the mayor’s race.
Incumbents Linda Waggener and Joe Moore have filed for the six council seats. Newcomer John Ford, a local businessman, has also filed for one of the six spots.
While names are being tossed around in the community as possible council candidates, nobody contacted this week would confirm they are planning to run.
Robert Flowers, president of the Bank of Columbia, said he is considering a run for city council but has not yet made a decision. Flowers said he expects to make a decision soon.
He said the city is at a turning point and a lot of things will change in the next five years, mentioning the expansion of city limits and commercial development. He commended the city and county for offering tax abatement for a new hotel and said the city can play a role in generating federal funding for the newly merged utility district.
By Sharon Burton
snburton@windstream.net
