…UPDATED BELOW…
While we’ve been away, a lot has happened in our fair city, but we’ll just have to save that reminiscing for another day.
Today’s “Famously Hot” word is that Steve Benjamin might be bowing out of his bid to become mayor of Columbia.The Pulse has received a number of phone calls this morning with the word that Benjamin is returning checks to contributors. If that’s the case, could it be that he’s calling it quits before he’s even officially announced?
There’s plenty of speculation as to why… but suffice it to say that what was gearing up to be a very interesting three-way race next April could easily become a battle of the political axes in Columbia.
Kirkman Finlay is expected to officially throw his hat into the ring soon, putting him head-to-head with Mayor Bob who’s vying for a sixth term.
With Benjamin in or out of the race, this is going to be an interesting next few months. Finlay, who’s been pounding away at the financial morass that’s been plaguing the city, will definitely give Coble a run for his money. Hey… it may even make going to Council meetings (or at least watching them on Channel 2) fun again.
We’ll keep you updated as more information comes available.
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UPDATE (12:50p):
Benjamin just texted us with this quote… “That’s just wishful thinking for some folks.”
UPDATE (1:12p):
And this follow-up email…“Rumors aren’t true. I’m still looking at the race and expect to make my decision very soon. Columbia faces many problems and new leadership is needed.”
I’m glad to see you guys back at the keyboard again! I hope Mr Benjamin can make a good run of this and win. Columbia’s ONLY hope is to be rid of Coble and the other self-serving cronies on City Council….ALL of them.
One thing I have said elsewhere and I will say here, is that I hope ALL candidates for mayor who run against Coble will make a pact that by a certain mutually agreed upon date, whoever is the front runner will continue on and the others will immediately drop out and throw their support to the front runner.
I see this as the only way that the Coble machine can be defeated for the good of Columbia. The multiple opponents thing has worked very well for Coble in that you will have two general camps in the voting booths. Some will, for whatever reason, want Coble to remain as mayor and the other side will generally be trying to unseat him.
Obviously, when you have five or six people running against him, or even two or three, the vote to unseat him is split that many ways, making Coble’s chances of winning that much greater.
I beg all candidates to please consider such a pact for the good of Columbia.