Columbia’s fifth ward council member has lost his re-election bid.
Challenger Christina Hartman beats Councilman Donald Waterman by a vote of 1,332 to 981. Waterman, who was first elected in 2023, was seeking his second term on the council.
Both candidates raised thousands of dollars. Councilman Waterman was backed by the National Association of Realtors, which aired radio ads touting Waterman’s record. Ms. Hartman was endorsed by the Laborers Union, which has been concerned with the amount of outsourcing in the city of Columbia. A report prepared for the city council this week indicates the city has spent $92-million on outsourcing in the past two fiscal years.
Hartman says she ran for the council because the city deserves leadership that plans ahead, listens carefully and makes decisions rooted in integrity.