A pair of Holy City politicians are making calls in an effort to line up support for future mayoral bids, sources tell FITS.
S.C. Rep. Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston) and city councilwoman Colleen Condon are both reportedly reaching out to potential supporters as the race to replace longtime mayor Joe Riley begins to take shape.
Stavrinakis is a fourth-term lawmaker who captured a GOP district in 2006 – and has held the seat every since. He has previously flirted with bids for higher office – including governor.
Stavrinakis declined to comment on the reports, saying he was focused on his 2014 reelection campaign for the S.C. House of Representatives.
Condon is a fiscally liberal councilwoman first elected in 2005. Last year she was busted – but never held accountable – for failing to file several years worth of require financial disclosure information.
Oh … she also came out of the closet earlier this year after we published this report.
By the time he leaves office in January 2016, Riley will have served forty years as Charleston’s mayor – the seventh-longest tenure of any mayor in American history.
46 comments
Leon is not qualified to be mayor. He doesn’t meet the height requirement.
Just think of all the boards and commissions and organizations he could appoint his brother to!
Leon is not qualified to be mayor. He doesn’t meet the height requirement.
Just think of all the boards and commissions and organizations he could appoint his brother to!
So Charleston, which has the largest upper middle class black, conservative population, per capita, in America, gets to choose from two nasty Liberal Democrats? There can’t be that many dumb people in Charleston.
But there are Poly. They have been voting for little joe for the last 36 years.
Well, you have me there. When I lived and worked in Charleston, Joe was one my better acquaintances. Although, I will say, he was always very closed – something he learned from his dad. I would be lying if I said I didn’t like him.
Yeh,why not give them some intelligent good ol “conservative” Republican choices”
Lets start with House Speaker Bobby Harrell!.Ethical standards would,of course, be his strong point!
And who can forget everyones favorite “conservative” the Chipster Limehouse!William F. Buckley nver had anything on this boy when the brains were handed out,
Hell, maybe,Sanford can be talked into coming home and spreading some good ol Republican “family values” around!
Yep!Plenty of good choices for all you “principled conservatives” to choose from!
Happy pickins!
You are a silly person. Your values are dictated by the size of your stomach and your nose belongs to your next of kin. Now, go away, or will taunt you a second time.
No you see a “silly” person is one who posted the sentence Gillon noted below.
“Charleston…has the largest middle class black, conservative population, per capita, in America.”. Where in the world did you come up with that statistic? That is as ridiculous as it is false.
Youre surprised?
“Conservatives” believe all sorts of weird things.Just make something up,say it or write it,and one creates ones own reality!
Have you ever been to St Marks? Silly Rabbit!
As a matter of fact, I was in Venice last summer. Didn’t see a lot of black folks, however. Mainly pigeons and Italians. Didn’t inquire if they were conservative.
High marks for cleverness. No marks for relevancy. St. Marks in Charleston, plz…… mmm?
So Charleston, which has the largest upper middle class black, conservative population, per capita, in America, gets to choose from two nasty Liberal Democrats? There can’t be that many dumb people in Charleston.
But there are Poly. They have been voting for little joe for the last 36 years.
Well, you have me there. When I lived and worked in Charleston, Joe was one my better acquaintances. Although, I will say, he was always very closed – something he learned from his dad. I would be lying if I said I didn’t like him.
Yeh,why not give them some intelligent good ol “conservative” Republican choices”
Lets start with House Speaker Bobby Harrell!.Ethical standards would,of course, be his strong point!
And who can forget everyones favorite “conservative” the Chipster Limehouse!William F. Buckley nver had anything on this boy when the brains were handed out,
Hell, maybe,Sanford can be talked into coming home and spreading some good ol Republican “family values” around!
Yep!Plenty of good choices for all you “principled conservatives” to choose from!
Happy pickins!
You are a silly person. Your values are dictated by the size of your stomach and your nose belongs to your next of kin. Now, go away, or will taunt you a second time.
No you see a “silly” person is one who posted the sentence Gillon noted below.
“Charleston…has the largest middle class black, conservative population, per capita, in America.”. Where in the world did you come up with that statistic? That is as ridiculous as it is false.
Youre surprised?
“Conservatives” believe all sorts of weird things.Just make something up,say it or write it,and one creates ones own reality!
Have you ever been to St Marks? Silly Rabbit!
As a matter of fact, I was in Venice last summer. Didn’t see a lot of black folks, however. Mainly pigeons and Italians. Didn’t inquire if they were conservative.
High marks for cleverness. No marks for relevancy. St. Marks in Charleston, plz…… mmm?
Don’t go Joe !
Don’t go Joe !
Ms. Condon is actually on Charleston COUNTY Council. Downtown City Councilamn Mike Seekings has been up and running for Mayor for almost a year.
Ms. Condon is actually on Charleston COUNTY Council. Downtown City Councilamn Mike Seekings has been up and running for Mayor for almost a year.
I can see them alongside one another — Leon the short and Colleen the short and wide.
So funny.
I can see them alongside one another — Leon the short and Colleen the short and wide.
So funny.
Is Mayor Bob moving to Chucktown?
Is he taking his BFF Jean Toal with him?
Is Mayor Bob moving to Chucktown?
Is he taking his BFF Jean Toal with him?
When Stavrinakis ran for City Council, he got strong support from Mayor Joe Riley.
These days many Charleston voters dislike or are tired of Riley for running up huge bills including the $110 million makeover of the Gailliard Auditorium which is an asset mostly to uppity tourists and Spoleto-goers. So a Joe Riley endorsement these days cuts both ways and a candidate would seek it at his or her own peril.
Stavrinakis’ latest self-serving political stunt — putting his brother on the MUSC board of directors, and shoving aside the more-qualified Susan Pearlstein — will come back to haunt him.
Black and white folks — and Democrats and Republicans — all dislike croneyism.
The mayoral election is nonpartisan.
Stavrinakis has “CORRUPTION” stamped on his little (short) forehead.
Many of his would-be supporters will avoid him.
People will still pretend to like him at Manny’s, though.
When Stavrinakis ran for City Council, he got strong support from Mayor Joe Riley.
These days many Charleston voters dislike or are tired of Riley for running up huge bills including the $110 million makeover of the Gailliard Auditorium which is an asset mostly to uppity tourists and Spoleto-goers. So a Joe Riley endorsement these days cuts both ways and a candidate would seek it at his or her own peril.
Stavrinakis’ latest self-serving political stunt — putting his brother on the MUSC board of directors, and shoving aside the more-qualified Susan Pearlstein — will come back to haunt him.
Black and white folks — and Democrats and Republicans — all dislike croneyism.
The mayoral election is nonpartisan.
Stavrinakis has “CORRUPTION” stamped on his little (short) forehead.
Many of his would-be supporters will avoid him.
People will still pretend to like him at Manny’s, though.
Leon is a snake in the grass. Typical lawyer who uses lying by omission to accomplish his tasks. Just as Lee Edwards who ran against him in the 114 race last year. Don’t trust him as far as I can throw him.
Leon is a snake in the grass. Typical lawyer who uses lying by omission to accomplish his tasks. Just as Lee Edwards who ran against him in the 114 race last year. Don’t trust him as far as I can throw him.
No question, City Councilman Mike Seekings is in this race, and likely to be a compromise candidate.
Condon is the darling of the SCCCL, and other ‘liberal’ groups, which tend to be politically hypocritical. Charges of cronyism will hurt Leon, but the late C of C political science professor Dr. William Moore predicted that a West Ashley lawmaker would be Riley’s successor — Stavrinakis is a WA man, through and through. The neglect of West Ashley has been a sore point in the Riley Administration..
Charleston needs a progressive Mayor — local residents should receive first priority. The incoming Mayor should promote real economic development (white collar employment, light manufacturing, and technology industries) and puts a cap on the growth of the hospitality industry, as downtown Charleston is drowning in new hotel rooms.
Interesting points, Bill Moody … I mean GoWest. They read like your recent “West of” interview with the economic development slant. I believe anyone willing to put the brakes on the out-of-control minimum-wage tourist industry monster Riley has created will get attention. And in that, Stavrinakis being from West Ashley would be interesting, but only briefly. Then would come up Stavrinakis’ good ‘ole boy, self-serving legislative behavior, which he can no easier avoid than his shadow. The creep is likely to put insiders on the city’s many, many, many commissions. Riley has been doing that for four decades, and playing City Council like a violin. We’re sick of Riley and sick (already) of Stavrinakis. Please open the window, let in the fresh air, let out the fetid air.
No question, City Councilman Mike Seekings is in this race, and likely to be a compromise candidate.
Condon is the darling of the SCCCL, and other ‘liberal’ groups, which tend to be politically hypocritical. Charges of cronyism will hurt Leon, but the late C of C political science professor Dr. William Moore predicted that a West Ashley lawmaker would be Riley’s successor — Stavrinakis is a WA man, through and through. The neglect of West Ashley has been a sore point in the Riley Administration..
Charleston needs a progressive Mayor — local residents should receive first priority. The incoming Mayor should promote real economic development (white collar employment, light manufacturing, and technology industries) and puts a cap on the growth of the hospitality industry, as downtown Charleston is drowning in new hotel rooms.
Interesting points, Bill Moody … I mean GoWest. They read like your recent “West of” interview with the economic development slant. I believe anyone willing to put the brakes on the out-of-control minimum-wage tourist industry monster Riley has created will get attention. And in that, Stavrinakis being from West Ashley would be interesting, but only briefly. Then would come up Stavrinakis’ good ‘ole boy, self-serving legislative behavior, which he can no easier avoid than his shadow. The creep is likely to put insiders on the city’s many, many, many commissions. Riley has been doing that for four decades, and playing City Council like a violin. We’re sick of Riley and sick (already) of Stavrinakis. Please open the window, let in the fresh air, let out the fetid air.
It’s 2 1/2 years away, give it a rest.
It’s 2 1/2 years away, give it a rest.