Mayor Steve Benjamin endorses Andy Smith for at-large City Council seat
October 22, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – During a press conference in front of Columbia City Hall, Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin formally endorsed local non-profit leader Andy Smith for the Councilmember at-large seat in the November 3, 2015 general election.
“Andy Smith is genuinely committed to making Columbia a more vibrant place to live and work,” said Mayor Benjamin this morning. “We both share a vision for a strong Columbia that invests in every community, every resident and every corner of our city. I am looking forward to moving Columbia forward with Andy as a member of city council. I am asking Columbia to come together and elect Andy Smith on November3.”
Andy Smith released the following statement upon receiving the Mayor’s endorsement:
“I am running for city council because I believe that we need leadership that will build a smart, innovative and inclusive Columbia. The Mayor has been a leader focused on moving our city forward with a vision to make the city a great place to live, work and visit, and I am looking forward to working with him and the rest of city council to build the Columbia we envision. I am honored to receive his endorsement today and am looking forward to advocating for every resident of our city on city council.”
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.
