Voter: ‘It is a big election’

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — With nine candidates’ names on the ballot for three different seats on Columbia city council, voters come out in small numbers with big expectations. Two candidates, Brian Newman and Nammu Muhammad, are running for the district two seat. Moe Baddourah, Daniel Coble, Jenny Isgett, and Mike Miller’s names appear on the ballot for the district three seat. Three candidates are vying for the at-large seat: Joe Azar, Robert Bolchoz and Cameron Runyan. As varied as the candidates are, some voters had no idea an election was even happening. However, others were very much in-the-know and believe many issues–including public safety, public transportation, the economy and education–are riding on this city election. By lunch time Tuesday, pollsters in each district with an open seat on Columbia city council had seen considerably fewer ballots cast, compared to the last non-mayoral city election in 2008. According to the Richland County Voter Registration office, 335-people voted absentee, compared to almost three times that many in April 2008. A runoff election for Columbia city council will be held April 17, if necessary.