Famed mayor addresses Urban Studies students
Joe Riley recollects 32 years of experience in City Hall, accepts award for innovative governance
Marcus Funk
Issue date: 2/9/07 Section: News
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Riley has served as mayor of Charleston for 32 years and is currently seeking his ninth-consecutive term. He has worked as the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and president of the National Association of Democratic Mayors and has received numerous awards and recognitions during his 32 years as mayor.
"The great thing about the job of mayor is that you provide services to everyone. You have an opportunity to connect with people, maybe better than anyone, and to find out where they want to go," Riley said at a question- and-answer session yesterday afternoon. "If the mayor doesn't feel responsibility for the people, then no one does."
According to the Urban Studies Department, Riley has spent a great deal of his career improving urban planning and recreational development as well as integrating the urban community with the surrounding region. Riley led the city through Hurricane Hugo in 1992, helped heal racial conflicts in a divided community and declined a gubernatorial campaign in 1998 to remain in Charleston.
"He was a no-brainer, absolutely the best choice," said Chair of the Urban Studies Department and Professor of History Char Miller. "The guy seems to be tremendously genuine and tremendously capable."
Miller said the award was created by alumni to honor achievements in municipal governance and has been awarded only twice before: the first, in 2005, was given posthumously to Maynard Jackson, Atlanta's first African-American mayor, and the second to former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros.
Urban Studies Major Ross Rocketto, senior, said Riley has served as an admirable role model for Americans and American mayors and provides an example of responsible leadership over an unprecedented amount of time.
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