After meeting with several candidates, including Democratic State Rep. Leon Stavrinakis and City Councilman William Dudley Gregorie, the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1422 today endorsed businessman John Tecklenburg for mayor of Charleston.

"I've been proud to call John Tecklenburg a friend for more than 20 years, and I know that he'll make a great mayor for all the people of Charleston," said ILA Local 1422 President Kenneth Riley.

Tecklenburg said he was honored to have the endorsement, particularly given the port workers' extraordinary performance over the last five years, with container volumes rising by nearly 50% and earnings at the port up by more than 350%.

"As many of you know, my father, Henry Tecklenburg, was once the chairman of the State Ports Authority, and this endorsement means a great deal to me. I know that the remarkable growth our port has seen over the last five years is due in no small part to the hard work, skill and dedication of the men and women of ILA 1422, and I'm proud to have their support," Tecklenburg said.

About John Tecklenburg

For more than 25 years, Charleston native John Tecklenburg has served our city as a businessman, a civic leader, and a city government executive with a clear record of success.

A graduate of Georgetown University, John was the founder and president of Southern Oil Company until he sold the business in 1995. Next, John served as Charleston's Director of Economic Development under Mayor Joe Riley, where he led the city's nationally acclaimed initiative to revitalize and redevelop Upper King Street. Over the years, John has also served on the boards of many local charities and nonprofits, including Crisis Ministries, the Rotary Club, the Palmetto Project, and the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League.

Today, John works with commercial clients at Clement, Crawford & Thornhill, and serves as the president of SC Strong, which in 2011 was recognized by the SC Secretary of State's office as one of South Carolina's Top Ten Nonprofits. He is the proud father of five grown children – Melissa, Suzanne, Paula, Joseph and John Henry – and lives in West Ashley with his wife, Sandy.

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