Community Leaders Rally Support to Defeat Strong Mayor Movement in West Columbia
July 16, 2014
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Community and business leaders have formed West Columbia United to preserve representative democracy in West Columbia by opposing the current Mayor’s push for a Strong Mayor form of government.
The attempt by the current Mayor to change the form of government to the Mayor-Council form of government (commonly referred to as ‘Strong Mayor’) will result in the Mayor having sole authority over all day-to-day operations of the city, its personnel, finances and property. These are powers that have never been held by past Mayors of West Columbia and are the same expanded powers that Mayor Steve Benjamin sought, and ultimately lost, in Columbia.
The Council form of government has been in place in our city since 1976, when State law first allowed West Columbia to select its own form of governance. Under this longstanding system, the Mayor and Council set the policies for the city and the city administrator directs the day-to-day operations of the city on behalf of the mayor and council. West Columbia has benefitted greatly from the service of a professional city administrator who has served consistently for the past 15 years under four different mayors. This system has worked well to insure fair representation of all citizens and to bring progress to our city.
The community organization has selected Co-Chairmen: Mr. Dave Louis and Mr. Bruce Brutschy. Co-Chair Bruce Brutschy stated, “Under the Strong Mayor form of government, one person has absolute say over what happens in the City. A Strong Mayor can ignore the wishes of Council – and with it the will of West Columbia citizens. Running a city with 15,000 citizens, 200 employees and a $24 million dollar budgetshould be done with equal input from all of the elected members of Council, including the Mayor. 80% of municipal corruption cases take place in cities that have a Strong Mayor form of government. Our community wants a unified Council; not one that is further divided or controlled.”
Over the coming months, West Columbia United will work to educate the citizens on the dangers of switching to the Strong Mayor form of government. Community events and educational forums will take place. For more information, you can go to the West Columbia United website – www.westcolumbiaunited.com – and sign up for the weekly email updates. You can also find out more on the West Columbia UnitedFacebook or Twitter pages.
