Councilman Edward H. McDowell, Jr.

When Ed McDowell landed in Columbia after retiring, he immediately got involved in his community, which at the time was slowly transitioning from a community of vacant and abandoned homes, drugs, and other criminal activity to a very diverse community of families, singles, homeowners, and renters. This grassroots activist currently lives in the Historic Waverly community located in District II.

A tireless servant of the church and the community, McDowell served as president of the Historic Waverly Neighborhood Association, member of the Board of Directors of the Benedict Allen Community Development Corporation, and was a previous Board of Trustee member at Columbia College and president of Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Columbia.  His diverse experience also led to his appointment to the Racial and Reconciliation Committee and the SC Conference Council on Finance and Administration.

While serving as president of the Historic Waverly Neighborhood Association, McDowell saw firsthand the importance of strong district representation. He understands the critical role neighborhood leaders play in our community and the support they need from their district representatives.

Councilman Ed McDowell is a champion for building neighborhoods, safe streets, economic development, substantial jobs, and providing constituent service. He is a listener, a community advocate, and a friend.

Councilman McDowell was born in Greenville, SC raised in Sumter, SC, and received his Bachelor’s degree in History/Political Science from Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC, he was awarded a Master of Divinity from Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia, and a Doctorate of Divinity from Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC.  A versatile and prominent theologian in the United Methodist Church, Rev. McDowell has pastored churches in Charleston, Columbia, Greer, Spartanburg, and as District Superintendent of both the Anderson and Hartsville Districts, oversaw some 200 churches, and appointed and counseled over 70 ministers.

For 14 years, Rev. McDowell was pastor at Francis Burns United Methodist Church in Columbia lead the congregation at Trenholm Road UMC. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Councilman Ed McDowell and his wife Jeannie reside in the Historic Waverly Community and have three children; Edward III (Andrea), Timothy (Tracy), Erin (Bruce), and seven grandchildren. Councilman McDowell’s parents both deceased, Rev. E.H. and Ernestine Walker McDowell, his two sisters and one brother, the Rev. Julius L McDowell.

McDowell was first elected to City Council in 2016.