Terms of office are four years, with council members and mayor serving staggered terms.
The City Manager, appointed by the Council, is the city's chief administrator and is primarily responsible for the efficient operation of the city government. Columbia's Mayor is Bob Coble . Eleven members are elected for four-year staggered terms. Members are elected by district and serve four-year staggered terms. State Government Our Representatives in Congress Strom Thurmond is the senior Senator from the State of South Carolina, and he is the senior member of the United States Senate.