BRACK: Congratulations, Mayor-elect Tecklenburg

By Andy Brack | The Charleston that you want the world to see showed up Tuesday night at Mayor-elect John Tecklenburg’s victory party — young, old, black, white, Republicans, Democrats, gay, straight, rich, poor, old Charleston and new Charleston.

The inclusive, diverse crowd vibrated with palpable and emotional electricity as energized supporters grooved to loud music, laughed, hugged and waited for a victory speech. Then Tecklenburg delivered the kind of forward-looking talk you’ve heard for weeks. He discussed boosting Charleston’s quality of life and working together to make things better.

Tecklenburg

Paraphrasing President John F. Kennedy, Tecklenburg challenged Charlestonians to do more in the months and years ahead: “Ask yourselves not what Charleston can do for you, but for what you can do for Charleston.”

Charleston Currents endorsed “Teck” to serve as the Holy City’s leader to follow the iconic Joe Riley because Tecklenburg has worked throughout his life for the common good through service above self. We endorsed him because he understands the job of mayor, although as the shine of his convincing 16-point runoff victory wears off as he wakes this morning, he may wonder, “What in the world have I gotten myself into?”

More than anything, we endorsed Tecklenburg because of his utter decency based on a value system that refused to take the bait of negative attacks and nasty campaigning. “This was a good win done the right way,” one former city council member said Tuesday.

Indeed. A good guy won. Maybe leaders across South Carolina can learn something from Tecklenburg about running a campaign based on decency. In times when terrorists set off bombs in Paris and a lone gunman murders people in a historic Charleston church, it is comforting at multiple levels to know that the man who will now lead the city has a strong a set of core community values, integrity and single-mindedness to do the right thing.

Tecklenburg admitted to the hundreds gathered at the Charleston Marriott on Tuesday night that he didn’t have all of the answers — that he, alone, wouldn’t be able to do everything. Again, returning to a familiar theme, he said, “We need to work together as a community to be collaborative and inclusive to solve our problems.”

And we know he’ll work tirelessly, just as he has through months of campaigning. Tecklenburg proves the adage that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. He inherited a common-sense passion for bringing people together from his parents, civic leader Henry Tecklenburg Jr. and Esther Tecklenburg, a past member of city council.

Just listen to how former U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings remembered his “tremendous friend” and campaigning buddy, Henry Tecklenburg, upon his death in 1993: “Teck, as we knew him, was the epitome of the Charleston gentleman and the Christian servant. He loved people–people of all walks of life. He took satisfaction in setting them at ease, sharing his wisdom with them, extending a helping hand, making a difference big or small in their lives.”

Sound familiar today? That’s the kind of guy who will now lead Charleston. His father would be proud, just as his family and friends are.

Congratulations, John Tecklenburg. Charleston’s ready to walk the next step forward with you.

Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Charleston Currents. Have a comment? Send it to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.