Belinda Gergel throws her hat into the District 3 ring
By John Temple Ligon Temple@TheColumbiaStar.com

Belinda Gergel with speech in hand announces her candidacy for Collumbia City Council District 3 seat, the seat now occupied by Anne Sinclair. With Gergel are supporters who came to cheer her on January 29, 2008.

Dr. Belinda Gergel, who earned her PhD at Duke University and recently retired from Columbia College, held a press conference Tuesday morning on the steps of the Inn at USC, near the corner of Pendleton and Pickens. She formally announced her candidacy for Columbia City Council, District 3. Council member Anne Sinclair is not running for re- election.

Gergel's supporters spoke on her behalf: former city council member Luther Battiste, Nelson Mullins attorney Steve Morrison, Inn at USC developer Bert Pooser, neighborhood leader Fred Easley, and former State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum. The speakers had recent experiences working with Gergel on city and neighborhood issues. Morrison, for instance, followed Gergel as president of the Historic Columbia Foundation, and both worked with hotelier Pooser to save the Black House and the Kirkland Apartments as part of the Inn at USC.

Guy Jones

In response to questions at the close of her speech, Gergel declared herself on top of improved public transit, and she advocated online campaign finance full disclosure.

The election is Tuesday, April 1.

Barbara Rackes Richard Gergel and Inez Tenenbaum Bert Pooser and Luther Battiste Susie Heyward Kathryn Fenner John Stucker Steve Morrison