Stephen K. Benjamin
| Stephen K. Benjamin | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 36th Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina | |
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Assumed office July 1, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Bob Coble |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Stephen Keith Benjamin December 1, 1969 Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | DeAndrea Gist |
| Residence | Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of South Carolina |
Stephen Keith "Steve" Benjamin (born December 1, 1969) is an American politician and businessman serving as 36th and current mayor of Columbia, South Carolina since July 2010. He is the first African American mayor in the city's history. Before serving as mayor, he worked in the Columbia metropolitan area as an attorney and served on various charitable organizations. On November 5, 2013, Benjamin won re-election for mayor with 64% of the vote.
Benjamin's parents are from Orangeburg, South Carolina, but relocated in the 1960s during the Great Migration and moved to Queens, New York, where Benjamin was born. Benjamin moved to Columbia to attend the University of South Carolina to study Political Science.
He was actively involved in the student chapter of NAACP, eventually becoming president. Benjamin was also elected as student body president during his undergraduate career and went on to become president of the University of South Carolina School of Law student bar association during his third year. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
Benjamin was the principal of the Benjamin Law Firm, LLC, in Columbia, South Carolina where his practice emphasized governmental strategic planning, administrative and regulatory work, municipal finance and general business matters.
On March 2, 1999, Benjamin was appointed to the Governor's Cabinet by Governor Jim Hodges serving as the Director of the South Carolina Probation, Pardon, and Parole Services. Benjamin has also served as the Regional Manager of Public Affairs for International Paper Company, Manager of Corporate Affairs at Carolina Power & Light Company. He additionally worked as an associate in the Administrative and Regulatory practice of the McNair Law Firm in Columbia.
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