Councilman will return to legislative body following election
Councilman Moe Baddourah was surrounded by family and supporters Tuesday night at Andy’s Deli as the news that his challenge of Mayor Steve Benjamin had failed in a nearly two-to-one vote.
Baddourah and his supporters gathered in Five Points at Andy’s Deli, his uncle’s restaurant. One of his supporters, Chris LaTorre, said he was there to support Baddourah and “everything he stands for.”
“He brings a brilliant business mind to managing the city,” LaTorre said. “He’s very responsive to requests about safety in neighborhoods.”
LaTorre said the issues that matter most to him are public safety and burglaries.
“There are lots of burglaries he’s responded to. We got extra police as a result of Moe’s efforts, as well as speed traps and officers staking the area,” LaTorre said. “He’s very effective and brings a business mind to politics. He’s a good family man and very personable.”
Baddourah’s platform included an increased emphasis on crime prevention in Columbia and the hiring of a permanent police chief. He also has said that he strongly opposes the push for a strong-mayor form of government.
Carole Shlon, Baddourah’s aunt, said her nephew was kind and good-hearted.
“He has the interest of the city uppermost in his mind,” Shlon said.
As for the issues that were most important to her, Shlon also named safety concerns. As the owner of a business in Five Points, Shlon said she was worried about the safety of the city in general.
“We’re doing well, but I want all that can be done to be done to make the area safe for everyone,” Shlon said.
After conceding the race, Baddourah said he will continue to work with Benjamin and advocate for increased safety measures in the Columbia area.