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CANDIDATE CLAIMS INCUMBENT POSSIBLY BROKE STATE LAW
I’ve written a couple times about the very heated race for the at-large seat on the Columbia City Council, and on Friday the other shoe dropped. And it could spell disaster for the incumbent.
Challenger Cameron Runyan held a press conference at the site of the Five Points South development — a six-story condo, retail and public parking area planned for Saluda Avenue in Columbia’s Five Points — that he claimed held “the specter of financial improprieties” for Councilman Daniel Rickenmann.
Those possible improprieties stem from Rickenmann’s involvement in the project and the possibility that he used his office to pocket $500,000 in taxpayer money.
“What has yet to be reported and was brought to my attention late yesterday afternoon is that before, during, and after the initial votes on this project, Councilman Daniel Rickenmann has had a direct financial relationship with the original owner of the Kenny’s Auto Supply store property, and Mr. Rickenmann may have potentially violated state law,” Runyan said.
Kenny’s Auto Supply store was previously located on the property and was sold by Kenneth Hooks to the project’s developers — who received tax dollars for the purchase — for a record $4 million. Runyan claimed that within a couple months of Hooks selling the property, he purchased the “Birds on a Wire” building owned by Rickenmann for a significant profit.
Rickenmann’s Foodworks Creative Development Company had recently bought out the Birds on a Wire co-owners.
Hooks’ attorney admitted to The State that he needed to buy property or properties of similar value in order to get around costly capital gains taxes and receive what is known as a tax-deferred exchange.
State Ethics law forbids a public official from making, participating in making, or in any way attempting to use their office to influence a governmental decision in which they, a member of their immediate family, an individual with whom they are associated or a business with which they are associated has an economic interest.
Runyan believes Rickenmann may have done just that.
“I cannot and should not be judge and jury on Mr. Rickenmann’s violation of this law,” said Runyan. “That should be looked at by the appropriate authorities. I can say that this statute gives me a great concern that Mr. Rickenmann may have violated some state laws.”
Runyan also stated that Rickenmann should have abstained from voting to prevent the appearance of a conflict because, “at a minimum, this doesn’t pass the smell test.”
TIMELINE:
- Feb. 20, 2007: Rickenmann’s Foodworks Creative Development Company buys out all other co-owners of Birds on a Wire property for $1.45 million [View PDF]
- March 5, 2007: Rickenmann votes to build a public parking garage as part of Five Points South project
- April 10, 2007: Hooks sells two parcels of land (formerly Kenny’s Auto Supply) to Washington Square LLC (project developers) for $4 million [View PDF]
- June 29, 2007: Less than 90 days after Hooks sold Kenny’s Auto Supply property, and less than four months after Rickenmann’s Foodworks Creative Development Company bought out all co-owners of Birds on a Wire property, Foodworks sells Birds on a Wire property to Hooks for $1.95 million [View PDF]
Much ado about nothing!
They are crooks…junior crooks or senior crooks…but crooks you can be sure.
Rickeman is well on his way to being the white mans E W Cromatrie.
Money drives these guys mad.
Maybe with Daniels windfall, he can afford someone to actually wipe the tables. And mop the corners…his places are dirty.
But then again his money seems to be too.
This thing stinks…Its clear from watching the clip he knows he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
This is a last minute smear attempt from Mr. Runyan who is apparently lagging in the polls. This is why politics stinks, because people make something out of nothing. Mr. Rickenman owns a bldg jointly with a group of investors and then a private entity buys that that to offset their capital gains tax. This was not bought with or sold with taxpayer dollars, this was bought by a private citizen, who received a price for his property…folks the city, county, and state all the time assist in the buying of properties for investment, advancement, and beautification reasons. I would also like to see Mr. Runyan proove to us that Mr. Rickenman actually was negotiating to sell the building prior to the sale of Kenny’s. It is our understanding that Mr. Rickenman operated the restaurant side of the business, but was not involved in the real estate side of buisness. And from the looks of it, the old Kenny’s spot (as nostalgic and eyesore as it was) appears to still be sitting there as empty land…while the 5 points committee reviews the plan..again, of which I do not believe Mr. Rickenman is a member of
I agree with Paul. Furthermore, the State Ethics Commission, hardly a fast and loose bunch, said there is no problem.
Now Cameron is circulating a photo of Daniel at a fraternity party and the Confederate flag is in the background. Durham Carter, at one time a supporter of Runtyan, was offended that it was done by dropping a rolled up copy through his mail chute. Apparently Durham is also falsely attributed to an email circulating same. Pastor Jackson of Brookland Baptist Church was also offended by the tactic.
Next we’ll be hearing about his illegitmate black daughter–oh wait, that was John McCain.
Let’s rise above Lee Atwater/Karl Rove tactics and race-baiting. Reject the dirty trickster.
Oh and where is Runyan’s ethics filing? How convenient it was “overlooked” before he started slinging mud.
K-9, how convenient that you make claims about good folks like Durham Carter and hide behind the anonymity of a pseudonym…Then again, my understanding is that it is Daniel that is making false claims since he was found twice with his hand in the cookie jar…once profiting off his seat on council and secondly by the fact, “old times there are not forgotten.”
Ha Ha Ha….looks like Runyan is the one breaking the laws here. Please check out wistv showing him passing out info IN the polling location. Looks like when stinkey stuff starts flying around the age old saying reigns true…”"Whoever smelt it, delt it”
And now… Bird’s on a wire is belly up…. Odd… i thought so… now i think not