Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- Career public servant Steve Morrison announced his run for the Columbia mayor Thursday, saying that the city is ready for change.
Morrison is the past board chairman of the Columbia Urban League, and has served as the board chairman of the Columbia Museum of Art, and the president of the Historic Columbia Foundation. He says Columbia needs to chart "clear and compelling new directions in creating jobs, making our streets and neighborhoods safe and by assuring that the city's finances are in order."
Morrison also said the city has mismanaged its finances, pointing to the fact that the city overpaid its bills, sometimes three times. He says he is also concerned that insurance coverage for city employees is underfunded, while the city's surplus has been drawn to nearly zero. "To be honest about it, I have cringed every time I read about a new, difficult to understand breach of basic good management in city government," Morrison said, "Just when we thought Columbia had turned a corner on bad news, another embarrassment turned up."
Morrison says he feels that the people of Columbia do not feel safe on the streets. He wants to establish a program to counteract gang problems, saying that gangs "rob our children of the innocence of their lives and teach them all of the wrong lessons in life."
A Columbia resident since 1975, Morrison has served on boards at Benedict College, Allen University, Edventure and the Central Carolina Community Foundation. He says that chairing the United Way Campaign gave him an opportunity to learn more about the needs of residents in each neighborhood in Columbia.
Morrison admits that he has little traditional experience in politics, as he has spent most of his professional time serving the public in non-elected roles. "I have spent years of my life contributing to our community," Morrison said in a Thursday news release, "The way many people do who want their neighborhood and city to be a good, safe place to raise a family, enjoy life, and earn a living."
The candidate says his administration would focus on his brand of public service and not "politics as usual."
Morrison said he would like to:
- Build up the city's economy by creating jobs through the state's colleges and universities
- Attract new investments in sustainable energy, technology and small business
- Promote the arts and the city's history as a means of economic development, social progress, and a way to lift the people's "collective spirit"
- Work for the city's safety
- End uncertainties in the city's budget issues
"I am not a 'do it my way or else' person, nor do I have an appetite for political office for its own sake," Morrison said, "If elected as Mayor of Columbia, I will not try to use the office as a stepping stone to statewide office. As Mayor of my hometown, I will already have the best job there is."
11/19/2009 2:06:17 PM
