COLOMBIA – Joe Taylor, a former South Carolina trade chief known as a critic of Columbia’s tax and trade policies, seems ready to try to address his concerns head-on.
Taylor told the Post and Courier on March 24 that he is considering running for Columbia City Council, but that it is too early for a formal announcement.
Taylor said he would seek the seat in District 4 currently occupied by Daniel Rickenmann if he ran for the November 2 election.
“I think I’m very, very, very interested,” said Taylor.
Rickenmann said he will run for mayor after Mayor Steve Benjamin announced plans not to run for a fourth term. This would leave his chair open representing the neighborhoods to the east and northeast of the city center.
Taylor, a 62-year-old Columbia developer, is the first known potential candidate to express interest in the Rickenmann chair.
Taylor, who remains active in development after running Southland Log Homes, was SC’s Secretary of Commerce for six years under Governor Mark Sanford and helped land Boeing’s North Charleston jet plant.
He has spoken openly in recent years about the constraints he perceives in the city’s business climate. He cited the need to heed the recommendations of a recent economic study supported by Rickenmann, which found in part that the combined high taxes of school districts and local governments were stifling Columbia’s economic and population growth.
The study was done by a former chief economist at the state Department of Commerce who worked for Taylor.
“There are only a few steps we need to take as soon as we can implement them to make Columbia competitive, especially when we get out of this situation COVID and companies are reevaluating their situations and reshaping their business plans,” said Taylor.
He added: “We just need to make sure that Columbia is in a position from a public security perspective, an education perspective, a licensing perspective and an appearance perspective that have been able to compete for new investments and opportunities that will emerge in the tubes. “
More than half of Columbia’s seven-member council may be new in 2021.
Rickenmann, longtime councilor Tameika Isaac Devine and former aide to Benjamin Sam Johnson have announced campaigns for mayor.
Devine’s general seat is being sought by Heather Bauer, IT project manager and business owner; public health researcher Aditi Bussells; and Deitra Matthews, a former environmental educator and lobbyist.
Sam Davis, the oldest board member, is stepping down at the end of the year and leaving his seat in District 1, representing North Columbia, open. Lawyer Tina Herbert, who previously headed the city’s Office of Business Opportunity, is expected to run for Davis.
Talk to Stephen Fastenau at 803-365-3235. Follow him on Twitter @StephenFastenau.