October 21, 2025
The Columbia College Student Government Association (SGA) welcomed the community to campus on October 20 for a City of Columbia Mayoral and City Council Candidate Forum, offering an opportunity for voters to hear directly from those seeking local office ahead of the upcoming November 4th election.
All three mayoral candidates, Daniel Rickenmann (incumbent), Jessica Thomas, and Wade Fulmer, Jr., participated in the forum, joined by nearly all candidates for City Council. The evening’s discussion, moderated by Columbia College Associate Dean of Social Sciences, Dr. Tywana Chenault Hemby, covered a range of topics submitted in advance by Columbia College students, faculty, staff, and community members, including public health and safety, infrastructure, housing, economic development, and youth engagement.
The forum was livestreamed by WIS TV, allowing viewers across the Midlands to tune in and hear candidates’ perspectives in real time. Local news outlets, including WACH Fox, were also on campus to capture the event and interview candidates, as well as Columbia College SGA President Janiah Perry, who emphasized the importance of civic engagement among young voters.
“The goal of this forum was to create space for open dialogue and informed decision-making,” Perry shared. “It’s important that students and community members alike understand the impact local leadership has on our daily lives.”
The event reflected Columbia College’s ongoing commitment to civic engagement and community connection – bringing students, neighbors, and local leaders together for a meaningful discussion about the city’s future.
Watch the full forum here: WIS TV Livestream Part 1, WIS TV Livestream Part 2