Columbia Elects First Black Mayor

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ South Carolina’s capital city has electedits first black mayor. With just a few precincts remaining, results from the RichlandCounty Election Commission show lawyer and lobbyist Steve Benjaminwon Tuesday’s mayoral runoff election in Columbia with 10,784votes, or 56 percent. City Councilman Kirkman Finlay III got 8,558votes, or 44 percent. Benjamin won the election earlier this month by about 1,000votes, but fell well short of the majority needed to avoid arunoff. Benjamin is a 40-year-old father of two whose politicalexperience includes leading the state Department of Probation,Pardon and Parole for three years. Benjamin will replace Columbia Mayor Bob Coble, who decided lastyear to step aside after 20 years in office. ABC Columbia’s Robin Kanady spoke with Steve Benjamin after winning the mayoral runoff. To see the video, click on the player under the news section. (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)