Stephen K. Benjamin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steve Benjamin
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Benjamin in August 2023
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| Senior Advisor to the President for Public Engagement | |
| In office April 1, 2023 – January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Keisha Lance Bottoms |
| Director of the Office of Public Engagement | |
| In office April 1, 2023 – January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Principal Deputy | Jamie Citron |
| Preceded by | Keisha Lance Bottoms |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| 70th Mayor of Columbia | |
| In office July 1, 2010 – January 4, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Bob Coble |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Rickenmann |
| 76th President of the United States Conference of Mayors | |
| In office May 7, 2018 – July 1, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Mitch Landrieu |
| Succeeded by | Bryan Barnett |
| Director of the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services | |
| In office January 13, 1999 – January 15, 2003 |
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| Governor | Jim Hodges |
| Preceded by | Stephen Bernie |
| Succeeded by | Joan Meacham |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Stephen Keith Benjamin
December 1, 1969 New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | DeAndrea Gist |
| Education | University of South Carolina (BA, JD) |
Stephen Keith Benjamin (born December 1, 1969) is an American politician and businessman. He served as a top advisor to President Joe Biden. He also directed the White House Office of Public Engagement. This office helps the President connect with different groups of people.
Before working for the President, Benjamin was the 70th mayor of Columbia, South Carolina. He served from July 2010 to January 2022. He was the first African American mayor in Columbia's history. He also worked as a lawyer and helped many charities. In 2018, he became the 76th president of the United States Conference of Mayors. This group brings together mayors from across the country.
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Early Life and Education
Stephen Benjamin's parents were from Orangeburg, South Carolina. They moved to Queens, New York, in the 1960s. This was part of a big movement called the Great Migration. Many African Americans moved from the Southern states to the North for better opportunities.
Benjamin later moved to Columbia, South Carolina, for college. He studied political science at the University of South Carolina. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1991. Then, he went to the University of South Carolina School of Law. He earned his law degree in 1994.
Student Leadership
During his time at the University of South Carolina, Benjamin was a very active student. He joined the student group of the NAACP. This organization works for the rights of African Americans. He even became its president.
He was also elected as the student body president for the whole university. Later, in law school, he led the student bar association. He is a member of two important fraternities, Kappa Alpha Psi and Sigma Pi Phi.
Legal Career
After finishing law school, Benjamin became a lawyer. He is the head of the Benjamin Law Firm, LLC in Columbia. His work focused on helping governments plan their strategies. He also worked on business and financial matters for cities.
Political Journey
In 1999, Benjamin started his public service career. The governor of South Carolina, Jim Hodges, chose him to lead a state department. This department was called the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services. He held this important role until 2003.
In 2002, Benjamin ran for a big state job. He wanted to become the Attorney General of South Carolina. This person is the chief legal officer for the state. He ran as a Democrat but did not win the election.
During the 2000 United States presidential election, Benjamin helped the Al Gore 2000 presidential campaign. He was a co-chair for a group called GoreNet in South Carolina. This group helped the campaign by organizing people in their communities. They also used the internet to reach supporters.
Mayor of Columbia
In 2010, Stephen Benjamin ran for mayor of Columbia. He won a special election and became the city's new leader. He won against another candidate named Kirkman Finlay III.
In November 2017, Benjamin ran for mayor again. This time, no other candidates signed up to run against him. So, he was automatically re-elected as mayor without anyone needing to vote. On February 4, 2021, Benjamin announced that he would not run for re-election in 2021. He finished his term in January 2022.
After Being Mayor
After his time as mayor, Benjamin took on several new roles. He became the Board Chair of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority). This group helps build a special network for emergency responders. The Biden Administration appointed him to this position.
He also taught a class on leadership at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He is also a co-chair for the Center for US Global Leadership. This group works to promote American leadership around the world. He also leads the Flex Association, which represents companies that use "gig workers." These are people who work short-term jobs, like for Lyft or DoorDash.
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Working for President Biden
In February 2023, Stephen Benjamin was chosen for a very important job. He was appointed as a senior advisor to President Joe Biden. He also became the director of the Office of Public Engagement. In this role, he helped the President connect with various groups and communities across the country. He took over this role from former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Personal Life
Stephen Benjamin is married to DeAndrea G. Benjamin. She is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. They have two daughters together.
Recognition and Awards
- The Root's 100 Influential Black Americans (2011 & 2013)
- The Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery by a Public Official (2017)
