City of Columbia Firefighters Association endorses Andy Smith for at-large City Council seat
October 29, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – During a press conference today near the First Responder’s Remembrance Memorial, at the intersection of Lincoln and Senate streets, Victor Kemper and the City of Columbia Firefighters Association Endorsed Andy Smith for the Councilmember at-large seat in the November 3, 2015 general election.
“We can’t help but listen to when someone has great ideas for making this city a better place,” said Kemper. “Andy realizes in a very practical way how growth in Columbia has already affected public services, and public safety in particular. This is a time of great change for our city and for the fire department as well. Andy Smith is the candidate we see as most fit to lead this city, and that’s why today, the Columbia Firefighters Association endorses Andy Smith for City of Columbia’s Councilman At Large.”
Andy Smith released the following statement upon receiving the City of Columbia Firefighters Association endorsement:
“I want to be a voice on council that supports our firefighters and first responders. Firefighters show heroism every day, but after the recent flooding in Columbia, it’s more important than ever that we support firefighters and first responders. I’ll also actively work with firefighters and other first responders to ensure that salaries and benefits are competitive and on par with other cities sized comparably to Columbia. When we lose talented firefighters to other cities with better incentives, we lose out on public safety, as citizens of Columbia. I am honored to have the support of the Columbia Firefighters Association.”
About Andy: A native of Columbia, Andy is the executive director of the Nickelodeon Theatre. Under his leadership, the Nickelodeon moved to the renovated Fox Theater in the heart of Columbia’s burgeoning Main Street, doubling its annual attendance and growing its budget to over $1 million annually. Columbia Business Monthly named Andy to its 2014 “50 Most Influential People” list and Free Times named him one of “50 People Who Get Things Done” in 2015.
Andy currently serves on the board of directors for the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center and City Center Partnership. He is also a member of the provisional board for the national Art House Convergence.
Andy lives with his wife, artist Kimi Maeda, in Earlewood with their dog Dziga and their cats Sergei and Benke.
For more information on Smith’s campaign or to donate, visit AndyForColumbia.com or follow Smith’s campaign on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
