Palmetto State News

Daniel Rickenmann is the mayor-elect of Columbia, after he won the Nov. 16 mayoral runoff to lead the city as its 37th mayor.

Current Mayor Steve Benjamin congratulated Rickermann on Twitter.

“Congratulations to Mayor-Elect Daniel Rickenmann @Rickenmann & Councilwoman-Elect Aditi Bussells @aditisrivastav on their big wins tonight. @CityofColumbia is a special place and I know they will serve us well,” Benjamin wrote.

Rickenmann will become the city’s third mayor over the past 30 years after Tuesday's runoff election over Tameika Isaac Devine, according to the Charlotte Observer.

The newspaper reported that the candidates had previously served together on that City Council for 10 years and had received enough votes in the Nov. 2 election to have a runoff because neither garnered enough votes to claim an outright victory. 

At that time, Rickenmann received roughly 44% of the vote in that balloting, while Devine finished second, with over 30%.

The Post and Courier reported that Rickenmann won the runoff with 52% of the votes.

Rickenmann celebrated his victory with supporters at The Main Course restaurant in downtown Columbia, according to The State.

“I’m just overwhelmed by all the support from the business community, the citizens of Columbia, the young people and the old, a cross section of people,” Rickenmann said. “I’m just excited about the opportunity to serve them and get to work.”

“We have raised issues of income instability, affordable housing, creating equitable neighborhoods and embracing the diversity of this city,” Devine told The State. “But I will tell you that although I am no longer going to be in an elected position in this city, my work in this city is not done.”

Rickenmann recognized that the mayoral race was contentious, but was ready to serve the city, according to The State.

 “At the end of the day, it came down to a battle,” Rickenmann said. “There were a lot of outside folks involved. At end of the day, Columbia chose and we both respect the voters.”