Wade conceedes mayoral race
Angie Wood, 50, hugs mayoral candidate Jerry Wade after making his conession speech to his supporters during the watch party Tuesday night at the House of Chow. Wade received 28 percent of the vote, losing out to mayor-elect Bob McDavid, who received 54.
Former Fourth Ward Councilman Jerry Wade thanked many supporters as he conceded the mayor’s race to winner Bob McDavid, but said he will still participate in Columbia’s affairs in some way.
“I’ll see you around the corner all of you,” he said to his supporters.
Wade got 28.3 percent of the vote to McDavid's 54.2 percent. Wade said the candidates who garnered the most votes were those who were able to raise the most money.
“They votes are in pretty direct proportion to the amount of money spent," he said. "That, to me, says something.”
Wade said he does not know whether he will run for City Council again. Columbia convenience store Daryl Dudley won the Fourth Ward seat.
“I don’t go away,” he told reporters. “I still live in Columbia and I’ll still be politically active.”
He did say he plans to do more bird watching with his wife.
With the victory of a conservative candidate like McDavid, Wade said he thinks Columbia is deeply politically divided.
“I think it means that we have a different set of dynamics on the council," he said. "I think that we have a community that is highly divided and fragmented. I do not see anything in this election that carries much hope of bringing the community together."
News Editor Will Guldin contributed to this report.