November 17, 2003

Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. won election to an eighth consecutive term of four years, getting 57 percent of the vote in the five-person race, defeating Jimmy Bailey who got 32 percent. The margin of victory helped Riley avoid a run-off.

A past president of The Conference of Mayors (1986-1987), Riley is widely recognized as mayor of one of America's most livable and progressive cities.

Riley was first elected in 1975. Under his leadership since then, Charleston has increased its commitment to racial harmony and progress, achieved a substantial decrease in crime and experienced a remarkable revitalization of its historic downtown business district. The city has also seen the creation and growth of Spoleto Festival U.S.A., a beautiful Waterfront Park, nationally acclaimed affordable housing, and experienced unprecedented growth in Charleston's size and population. Riley is credited with leading a city government with an impressive record of innovation in public safety, housing, arts and culture, children's issues, the creation of park and other public spaces, and economic revitalization and development.

Riley currently serves on the Conference's Executive Committee. He has also served as Chairman of the Cities Task Force of the Southern Growth Policies Board, served as President of the National Association of Democratic Mayors (1988-92). He was given the Outstanding Mayors Award by the National Urban Coalition, the Distinguished Citizens Award by the National Association of Realtors and named the 1991 Municipal Leader of the Year by American City & County. Riley has received the Order of the Palmetto, been named South Carolinian of the Year, and given the 1982 Verner Award by the South Carolina Arts Commission for outstanding contributions to the arts. Mayor Riley received many commendations for his leadership of the Charleston community before, during and after Hurricane Hugo in 1989. In June 2000, he was awarded the first President's Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors for outstanding leadership. In July 2000, he was honored as the first recipient of the Urban Land Institute J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionary Urban Development.