S*1397 Resolution, By Jackson, Lourie, Courson and Scott
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR COLUMBIA'S MAYOR-ELECT STEVE
 BENJAMIN UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS ELECTION AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO
 FILL THAT POST IN THE CITY'S HISTORY.

   04/27/10  Senate Introduced and adopted SJ-7

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR COLUMBIA'S MAYOR-ELECT STEVE BENJAMIN UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS ELECTION AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO FILL THAT POST IN THE CITY'S HISTORY.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate were pleased to learn that Columbia attorney Steve Benjamin was elected on Tuesday, April 20, 2010, to serve as the city's mayor; and

Whereas, Mayor-elect Benjamin will succeed Mayor Bob Coble, the city's longest-serving mayor, who was first elected in 1990 and will serve until July 1, 2010; and

Whereas, this historic election of the city's first African-American mayor comes at a time when the City of Columbia will have many challenges and opportunities before it in the coming years; and

Whereas, in the run-off election, Mayor-elect Benjamin garnered fifty-six percent of the votes cast by building a coalition for unity on a message of balancing the municipal budget without forfeiting public-safety and other important concerns; and

Whereas, in 1991, he earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of South Carolina and graduated from the university's School of Law in 1994; and

Whereas, from 1999 to 2002, Mayor-elect Benjamin served as the director of the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services and as a member of the Columbia Planning Commission from 1995 to 1997; and

Whereas, prior to his election, he practiced law, and served as a lobbyist, developer and principal of many successful business ventures in addition to being an active and respected civic and community leader; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to learn that Steve Benjamin will be serving Columbia as the city's chief executive and wish him every success as he takes office. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Columbia's Mayor-elect Steve Benjamin upon the occasion of his election as the first African American to fill that post in the city's history.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mayor-elect Steve Benjamin.