Columbia Standard

Daniel Rickenmann will be in a run-off vote with candidate Tameika Isaac Devine after neither candidate mustered the necessary majority of votes in Tuesday's election.

Former Mayor Steve Benjamin decided not to run for a fourth term this year.

Rickmann moved to the state in 1988 and was elected to the CIty Council in 2004. In 2012, he chose not to seek re-election, stating he wanted to focus on his family and his business, though he ran again in 2017. Rickmann currently serves as a City Council member for District 4.

A native of Columbia, Devine was first elected to the council in 2002. At that time, she became the first black female elected to the Columbia City Council and the first black person elected at-large.

A third candidate, Sam Johnson, was backed by Benjamin, stating he had “bold ideas and broad support.” Johnson worked on Benjamin’s first campaign back in 2009 and worked as an aide for the mayor before attending law school. He is the only candidate who had not previously served as a member of the City Council. 

The final candidate, Moe Baddourah, left Lebanon at the age of 16 to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, Andy Shlon, owner of Andy’s Deli in Columbia. Baddourah was elected to serve and sworn in on July 1, 2012 and has since been a strong advocate for the community and for small businesses. Baddourah currently lives in Shandon with his two sons, Zeke and Eli.