An election year in West Columbia just got a little more stacked.

Erin Porter, who has represented District 7 on City Council since 2017, has resigned her seat due to a move away from her district, the city announced.

The remainder of her current term, set to expire November 2025, will go to the winner of a special election to be held Nov. 7, the same day the city of about 17,000 across the Congaree River from Columbia holds its regularly scheduled general election. Also on the ballot that day will be the mayor’s seat along with council positions in Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8.

A release notes that Porter was a founding member of the Saluda Gardens Neighborhood Association and has played a leading role in utility projects, such as one currently taking place in the Saluda Gardens neighborhood. The release also credits her with being instrumental to the addition of paramedics to the city Fire Department.

The Saluda Gardens neighborhood makes up a large portion of District 7, which runs along Sunset Blvd./U.S. Highway 378, from Meeting Street/U.S. Highway 12 to just short of Botanical Parkway, and extends back to the Saluda River.

“The City has benefited greatly from Councilmember Porter’s service over the past six years,” Mayor Tem Miles is quoted. “Her knowledge as an engineer has helped with many of the considerations and projects we have worked on. She will be greatly missed and we wish her the best.”

Porter was in the midst of her second term on council, having run unopposed for re-election in November 2021.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the City of West Columbia on council and the residents of District 7,” she is quoted. “Many projects have been completed over the years from events, economic development, revitalization, parks and recreation, and planning while providing excellent essential services through utilities, sanitation, police, and fire. I am especially proud of our dedicated city staff and the expansion of our Capital Improvements Plan, prioritizing the investments to our water and wastewater distribution systems.“