Know Your Candidates (Part 2 of 6)

This is the second in a several-week series of profiles of the six candidates to succeed Joe Riley as mayor of Charleston. The candidates are Ginny Deerin, W. Dudley Gregorie, Toby Smith, Leon Stavrinakis, John Tecklenburg, and Maurice Washington.
John Tecklenburg is a married father of five, a local businessman, and former city employee, who lives in West Ashley. A graduate of Georgetown University and the Berklee College of Music, he loves to play jazz piano in his spare time.
Tecklenburg has never held public office, but is the former head of the city’s Department of Economic Development, and has served in various local organizations, including president of Crisis Ministries and of SC STRONG, the latter works to rehabilitate former prison inmates.
Tecklenburg surprised some by taking a place near the front of the crowded mayoral field seeking to replace his former boss, Mayor Joseph P. Riley, and by raising piles of campaign contributions.
Tecklenburg has developed a comprehensive plan that addresses many municipal concerns, while leaving off items that belong to other levels of governments, unlike some of his opponents.
Tecklenburg said his proudest civic accomplishment was “leading the revitalization of Upper King Street.”
“Twenty years ago, things were different; the naval base had just closed, all the stores had bars on the windows, and people were just afraid of Upper King Street,” he said. “It was a team effort, and Joe was the quarterback, and I executed the plan of revitalization.”s
His opponents may quibble with him on this one: Riley has taken credit for the revitalization of the Avondale Point area of West Ashley, but many think market forces had more to do with the success on this side of the river.
But the practice of spending civic money to lure private investment, through the use of a Tax Increment Financing zone downtown, helping to literally pave the way to Upper King’s resurgence is undeniable.
Tecklenburg said similar efforts need to be employed throughout West Ashley, like the Sam Rittenberg Boulevard commercial corridor, and City Hall needs to be focused on sprucing up more than just its gateways.