Mayor-elect names transition team

Columbia's Mayor-elect Steve Benjamin Columbia Mayor-elect Steve Benjamin has put together his Transition Team in his effort to bring together business, government, neighborhood and community leaders to help address challenges facing the city.

Staff Report
Published May 25, 2010

Columbia Mayor-elect Steve Benjamin has put together his transition team in an effort to bring together business, government, neighborhood and community leaders to help address challenges facing the city.

The four co-chairs are:

· Former Mayor Pro-Tem and Richland County Bar Association President Luther Battiste.

· CoastalStates Bank Executive Vice President and Managing Director and Midlands Technical College Trustee Robert Dozier.

· Internet pioneer, entrepreneur and director of TheRackesGroup Barbara Rackes.

· Community leader and Columbia Council of Neighborhoods President Bessie Watson.

Columbia's Mayor-elect Steve Benjamin “Last month, the people of Columbia elected me to bring new ideas, new leadership and change to City Hall,” Benjamin said. “We have set the bar high. But I am confident that the expertise and dedication these four exceptional men and women bring to this effort will exceed our expectations.”

The four transition team co-chairs will assess the city government’s ability to address citizens’ needs and, in consultation with fellow committee members and city staff, make recommendations and deliver a report to the mayor and council by July 1.

“This is an opportunity to take stock in the past and to look forward to the challenges ahead,” Benjamin said. “It’s an opportunity to identify our obstacles while build a consensus so we can overcome them together.”

A full transition committee list including each committee's chair is expected later this week.

Benjamin will be sworn in as Mayor on June 30.