African American Councilmembers, 1868-Present

ican American Council Members

City of Charleston, South Carolina

The 1783 charter of the City of Charleston provided for a form of government that generally existed in cities during the colonial era. From 1783 to 1808, the city was divided into thirteen wards, each represented by a warden elected annually; the intendant was elected from the wardens. The city elected wardens and intendants until 1836. The city elected a mayor and aldermen from 1836 through 1975. The city has elected a mayor and council members from 1975 to the present.

1868: Military appointments made by Major Edward Camby

Reverend Ennals J. Adams

Reverend Richard H. Cain

Richard Dereef

Robert Howard

William McKinlay

Edward P. Wall

William Weston

November 1868 Election

William McKinlay

Robert Howard, Sr.

Richard Holloway

William R. Hampton

Launcelot F. Wall

Philip Thorne

Malcom Brown

Edward P. Wall

Thomas Small

1871 Election. No African American aldermen from 1871-73.[i] 

1873 Election

W. J. McKinlay

S. B. Garrett 

A. B. Mitchell

W. G. Fields

John A. Godfrey 

B. Moncrief

George Shrewsbury

John Gordon

R. N. Gregorie 

1877 Election. No African American city council representatives for 90 years.

St. Julian Devine, 1967-1975. Mayor Pro Tem in 1975. First black alderman in 90 years.[ii] 

Frank McKenzie, 1971-75

David S. Hill, 1971-1975

Jerome Kinloch, 1975-1998

Daniel L. Richardson, 1975-1992

Hilda Jefferson, 1975-1998 (female)

Arthur Christopher, 1975-1992

Brenda Scott, 1975-1998 (female)

Robert Ford, 1975-1992

Ligure Ellington, 1992-1996

Maurice Washington, 1992-2000

Louis Waring, 1994-2012

James Lewis, Jr., 1996-2019

Kwado Campbell, 1998-2004

Robert Mitchell, 1998-2002, 2006-present

Wendell J. Gilliard, 1998-2008

Jimmy S. Gallant, 2000-2012

William Dudley Gregorie, 2009-present

Perry K. Waring, 2012-present

Rodney Williams, 2014-2017