The Richland County Republican Party will likely endorse three candidates in the City of Columbia Council races, reversing a party policy held since the 1980s to sit out nonpartisan races.

Endorsements are expected for:

• Mayoral candidate Kevin Fisher over Columbia Mayor Bob Coble and Five Points businessman Joe Azar, who is a member of the party and will have a vote on the endorsements.

• At-large incumbent Tameika Isaac Devine (who was also recently backed by Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson) over Chris Barczak and Kelly Coleman. A fourth candidate, Antonio Williams, did not participate in the interview with the party.

• Political newcomer Kirkman Finlay III. Finlay, whose father is the late Kirk Finlay, the former city mayor, faces no competition in the District 4 race.

The group will not endorse a candidate in the District 1 race in which Sam Davis faces no competition. Davis also did not participate in the interview because of a scheduling conflict, he said.

A vote by the party’s 68-member executive committee was to be taken Monday night, but they didn’t have a quorum. The vote is likely to come in the next few days, said Rusty DePass, a party member who headed up the subcommittee.

The three candidates were recommended after being interviewed by a GOP subcommittee. Candidates were quizzed on the city’s streetscaping projects, its form of government, the cost of coming up with a city slogan, tax reform and more.

“We’re doing it because we’ve been asked to do it,” DePass said. “In past races, Republicans have come to us and asked, ‘How do I tell who to vote for in a nonpartisan race? I can’t tell which is the conservative candidate? We need to find out who these candidates are and tell people. And that’s what we’re doing.’”

A 2004 analysis by The State newspaper showed most Richland County voters typically cast ballots for Democratic candidates in state elections.

The move has upset local Democrats, who say they do not endorse candidates.

“The reality is that local elections have become overly partisan,” said Steve Benjamin, chairman of the Richland County Democratic Party. He said water and sewer rates and streetscaping, which are points of contention in this year’s election, are not partisan issues.

“The Republican Party is doing a disservice to voters,” he said.

Of the 268 municipalities in South Carolina, only six hold partisan elections.

Just how important the party’s backing will be is up for debate.

“If nothing else, it clarifies for voters who are the Republicans and who are the Democrats,” said Phil Noble, a political activist and Coble supporter.

“But it really depends on how a candidate is positioning themselves and whose vote they’re courting,” he said. “If you’re running for pope, you don’t want Jack the Ripper’s endorsement.”

The candidates, two of whom are not Republicans, say they appreciate the backing.

“I’m not a Republican, so getting the GOP endorsement is fantastic news,” said Fisher, who describes himself as an independent and says he will soon announce “key” Democratic support he has also gained.

“I think Republicans and Democrats alike recognize that the mayor’s race is about policy and performance, not party,” he said. “In fact, I think lots of people, including many Democrats, are uncomfortable with the increasing partisanship Mayor Coble has brought to what is supposed to be a nonpartisan position.”

Coble said that even his harshest critic would not say he has operated the mayor’s office in a partisan way.

“If you look at my contributor list, I enjoy the support of many strong Republicans, including Gayle Averyt and Joe Taylor and most of the business community,” Coble said, noting he did not anticipate getting the Republican Party’s support but went to the interviews out of courtesy.

In 2003, Coble briefly tried for the Democratic Party’s nomination for U.S. Senate, but bowed out after fundraising showed he trailed state Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum.

Devine, who describes herself as an independent who often votes for Democrats, said the endorsement is a credit to her ability to work with others.

“It shows I have a wide range of support which, I think, makes me an effective council person,” Devine said.

Finlay, who also is friends with DePass, said he’s pleased to receive the party’s backing.

While Finlay considers himself a Republican on national issues, he says local politics often boil down to dealing with other council member’s personalities, leaving little room for partisanship.

“You have to be able to work well with many different types of people and be willing to compromise sometimes,” he said. “That’s how local politics works, and that’s what I’ll do.”

Reach Smith at (803) 771-8462.